At least we've all learned how to make a decent DIY power cord, including some interesting aesthetic decisions to add girth and weight.
I hadn't considered building my own until I read this thread... Some wire, some connectors, garden hose, filler, Techflex...
markl mentions in Jude's original dissection thread that Rick (VD guy) claimed the filler was the "secret sauce" of their cables. It might be interesting to find out whether this sandblasting metal dust has any sort of electrical benefit, possibly along the same line as a ferrite core?