I'm having mixed feelings on the stock cable. Part of me really likes it. It's aesthetically as nice as any aftermarket, feels nice, and IMO if you're running with an EQ, sounds as good as any aftermarket. Senn finally shook the curse of the horrible stock cables on this one.
On the other hand, maybe it's just because I'm spoiled by the ergonomic flexibility and light weight of the Q on my HE-6, but this thing is completely unmanageable. It knots like crazy, won't hold shape when I try to ravel it for hanging it all on my Woo stand, and the thing springs around like it's made of rubber or silicone....probably because it appears to actually be jacketed in rubber or silicone and wrapped with a wire....
I got my aftermarket cable not long ago just for ergonomic reasons. Like you said the stock cable just doesn't listen - if I want to roll it around something then it I should be able to do it. The new cable rolls around a toothpick and is much lighter. Plus I wanted longer distance between y-split and headphone connectors, the stock one was choking me at times.