Dear @lohanimal : The reason or reasons is only common sense: in any audio system cables should be as shorter as the system audio items permits.
Through a cm. or inch that the audio signal musts pass exist degradation of that audio signal as longer the cables as worst that degradation.
Capacitance?, who cares. What's important is that the audio signal " trip " to our ears been the shorter we can achieve.
Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS,
R.