I get a better understanding of the essence of the hobby this way. That is sort of why I dig building cables for recording.
I've been having that same thought, and I just got my package from markertec with materials for two long cables and two short 90 degree cables. Gotta pick up a soldering iron this weekend and give it a shot.
This got me to thinking about cables for my PA rig, too. A super-cheap 20' mic cable costs about $8-10. This is for essentially a POS. It looks like for about $13 I can have quad cable with Neutrik connectors. AND a better understanding of how my rig works, and maybe even a chance to repair something if it breaks.
Anyway, just thought I'd chime in and say that I've been thinking along those lines, too.
Now if was just goodf enough with the soldering iron to mod my spare Oktavas (or repair whatever's making them hiss sometimes).
Chuck