Cables, just as important as a hi end component?

Avoid people who speak in absolute terms and you'll be okay. 
Remember the old adage: 
I'll defend anyone seeking the truth but will fight anyone who claims to have found it. 
Or something like that.

All the best,
Nonoise

Nirvana SX-1 are famous cables, I didn't try them, though. I think, Chesky Records used them as microphone cables. That alone says a lot. What happened to Nirvana company ?
Yeah, not in absolute terms, but really good cables make a big difference.
 $5k interconnects between two $5k each active components ? Instead of upgrading one or both of those. I don't know, on case by case basis, I would say.  Also depends on what cables you already have.
But signal transmission is extremely important, this is hard to question.

We all know that sensibly designed and well built cables improve system performance, but it is interesting to to see that some members who own systems that are quite nice refuse to use even moderately priced cables.
It reminds me of how surprised I was a couple of years ago when I was reading a speaker review by Art Dudley (whom I very much liked) in Stereophile, and he made a casual comment to the effect that he would not be bothering using any footers under the speakers under review, and that it was basically nonsense.
 I was really shocked that a reviewer of his experience could actually believe that, but there you go.