Well, what an interesting thread.
I personally believe cables make ZERO difference in SQ. Unfortunately, false scientific techno babble psycho acoustic BS makes people think that they do. Cable voodoo should be outlawed imho.
Would I buy 3rd party cables? Yes. But NOT for SQ improvements. Looks, build quality are the only Two things that would make me consider it, nothing else. Would a pay a fortune? Not in your life. These cable companies know that they're snake oil. Yet they persist in attempting to tell customers that there are SQ differences due to voodoo science BS. The buggers should be done for fraud. If you insist on say that cables make a difference SQ wise, pay up with measurable scientific evidence that proves the differences in repeatable tests.
For some in here, patents make bugger all difference. Hell, Microsoft patented a "sudo" command, 30 years after UNIX had started using it. The USPTO granted Microsoft the patent too, despite prior art existing. Did the USPTO do any research? Nope. The US government makes a crap load of money from granting patents, many many many of them being bogus. Patent "examiners" also make a LOT of money for every patent that they approve. The whole system is corrupt and serves to only benefit the very largest, powerful and rich companies.
Dave
edited for typos and bad grammar.