Gold connectors do play a role . Steel corrodes. Gold does not. Corrosion can stop even the nicest digital signal. So if you want to keep replacing the cord every 2 years yes buy the cheepest cable. If you want to buy it and forget about it (and not break it the first time you run a vacum over it or a desk chair ) get the one thats thicker then a pencil.

The shack of cables is not the right way to go . Was that just a clever pun to bypass a NDA, or did I mean Cable shantie.

Monster cable has a life time warranty. One they actually honor. Yes they are expensive but its the last time you will ever buy a cable. Their cables are made in an oxygen free environment. That means zero corrosion of the insides. The connection between the connector and the conductor is the highest quality I have seen having disassembled a wide variety of cables making breadboard adapters.

Frys house brand is my personal pick. I got a 25 foot cable for 20$.

Thats the true low down of cables. The 3 dollar ones, the conectors break and so do the conductors inside the wire, They are not ultra skinny because its better, they are skinny because thin wire is cheaper.