I think you've hit on a very good point there.  I think the prices charged for some cables is what may even turn some people into "militant" objectivists who see it almost as their mission in life to save others from the con

Whilst I agree with you that I would never pay a 4 figure sum for a kettle lead whatever the difference you have to remember that there are people with mind bogglingly expensive systems (over £100K) for whom spending perhaps £2K on a power lead would not be that outrageous, especially if they believed it to make a worthwhile difference.  For you and me it would be like a new set of banana plugs in relative terms

Michael.