I used to think pricey interconnects were snake oil...

I used to use all WireWorld interconnects, but I found it difficult to fit them all into the spaghetti junction behind my equipment (six sources, phono stage, pre-amp, power amps, headphone amp). So I replaced them with skinny cheap interconnects. No difference to my ear. The only place where it does make a difference is on longer runs (pre-amp > monoblocks which sit behind the speakers) where cheapo interconnects pick up hum as they are not shielded.

Cables- a quagmire separating the wheat from the chaff.

I shall not ask if you refer to the cables or the listeners! Or, if I were to take inspiration from the grammar police lately active here, I'd point out the inefficiency of using a quagmire for winnowing......😉