If Nordost won't shorten & terminate it's own speaker cables who can please? Thank you!

One thing Nordost will NOT do is shorten cables for convenience.
If you purchased used cables that are too long, they will not shorten them.

One thing I do question is their claim of "tuned length". I think it's a built in "safety" excuse for such requests?

I wouldn't have anyone but Nordost alter their cable.

If you can, up your game and get Heimdall. That's where it starts with their specific engineering. It's more of the "middle of the line" for all the Norodost traits. I started off with Blue Heaven and eventually went all Heimdall from the wall to speakers. Worth the expense if your ears agree with the Nordost way. Otherwise, you probably can find another brand for less, with similar traits.