I did not say a dang thing about picture quality and lower cost cables. I said the connectors sometimes are a problem. If the HDMI connector is not secure, you will have problems. Since we warranty our installs, we tend to use equipment that will provide us with more reliable service.
I agree that most HDMI cables are waaaay over priced. We charge between $45 (24awg (3 feet) and $99 (35 Feet).
Anyone who has been around for more than a few years, knows that the quality of a cable usually has less to do with actual signal transfer and more with long term reliability. Over time cables can degrade from oxidation and cable tension. I am not saying you need some over priced monster cable, but I have found that the cheapest cable usually cause problems down the road whereas a mid-priced cable can provide reliable service and not break the bank.
It is a matter of degrees. I can safely assume most people reading this post are the DIY type. Installers deal with people that do not want to know how it works, what is better, or what last longer. They want to pay us to do the job right and not have problems. That requires good installers to use materials most of you guys would not consider worth it, because you can fix it when it goes bad. Most consumers would either pay someone to fix the problem, or even worse, live with a problem they should not have to live with. So if I sell them a more slightly more expensive cable than what many here promote, that I think will provide a longer life span and ultimately provide better service, am I really wasting that customers money, or am I doing a better job for them?
