why do people feel the need to buy expensive cable

Dynaquest, let me re-phrase Elizabeth's statement that I referred to and perhaps that will clarify the interpretation I was attempting to provide in my previous post.

Elizabeth said:

So far ZERO people have ’changed sides’, or been convince about anything, (except too many other people are just freaking idiots).

My interpretation:

So far ZERO participants have changed sides, or been convinced about anything, except that some participants have become convinced that other participants are just freaking idiots.

If that interpretation is correct, obviously she was not "referring to us as 'freakin' idiots,'” as you stated in your response and as CJ1965 implied in his response.

Best regards,
-- Al

OK, Al, I'll give her a pass on that portion of her post.  Not that I think she is really concerned about my doing that.

Cables do matter but they are also the biggest scam in high end audio. I am supposed to believe that it requires $3000 to produce a 1m interconnect with no moving parts? Maybe there are rare materials that require such a cost but there is scant science to back up the exaggerated claims of both the makers of such cables and the rather absurd claims that buyers report hearing.I do love reading the flowery reviews as they are extremely entertaining.

Get a good pair of balanced cables from Mogami and be content in the knowledge paying 100x the price will offer little more than a smaller checking account. As a wise philosopher once said-
  "Mundus vult decipi."

We wish to be deceived !

drjsmd
Cables do matter but they are also the biggest scam in high end audio. I am supposed to believe that it requires $3000 to produce a 1m interconnect with no moving parts? Maybe there are rare materials that require such a cost but there is scant science to back up the exaggerated claims of both the makers of such cables and the rather absurd claims that buyers report hearing.I do love reading the flowery reviews as they are extremely entertaining.

>>>>It would probably be helpful to your argument to post some of the alleged scant science and exaggerated claims of manufacturers and customers with some sort of evidence. Something. Otherwise you really don’t have a leg to stand on. By the way, my advice to you is don’t read any reviews of the $24,000 interconnects as you might risk a brain aneurysm. 🧠

For those who want more information, from well known electronics engineer Douglas Self: http://www.douglas-self.com/ampins/pseudo/subjectv.htm
With quite a bit of bibliography for those keen to enlarge their knowledge.