I am sick of cables

If the cable in question works as it is designed to do, I consider that job done and move on to the next problem. That said I have owned decent nice cables with gold anodized connectors with robust construction which would ensure they would last a very long time. As far as being able to detect any difference in sound, I never did. But the better cables last longer because their construction is more robust. Beyond a certain point, there is nothing to be gained by spending more. there are other things to spend the money on that will actually make a difference. room treatments, equipment to measure and eliminate room anomalies, and so on. I refuse to get my panties in a twist over cables. 

Matching cables to your system can make a big difference. I'm not talking about using the most expensive cables. It depends on your budget and system as to which cables you choose and how much you spend. Also, not many musicians are audiophiles and the same goes for recording studios. Of all the musicians I know, I am one of the few audiophiles.

How much have cables evolved over the past 16 years, when this thread was started. Do people get more bang for their buck? I would definitely assert there are more cable vendors now compared to 16 years ago, many of which sell directly and avoid the additional expense of marketing and magazine ads. Magazine, what is that?