Speaker Cables? why all the hype for expensive speaker wire?

Amen.

Cables are system and listener dependent. In some audio systems it is worth moving up from copper to copper/silver or to just silver to reveal more of the musical message and adjust tonality. Some listeners have better hearing and are able to discern finer details. They will notice the differences for sure. Most times the improvement is not correlated with the price paid, but as small as the improvement is it will better your musical experience. One can build relatively cheap a cable to receive 90% of the musical message, but if you want to capture another 8 - 10% you will have to spend a lot more money. Is the price justified? Perhaps yes if you have the passion and the money. Think how much you will spend going to live concerts instead of listening at home.

Assessment of cables without working with entire sets is playing at it and a waste of time, that is, if the goal is to actually move a system toward a directed goal of improved sound. That is why such misinformation as cables being system dependent arises. Actual use of several sets of cables across many systems would disavow that misnomer. But, most audiophiles do not have the luxury of such experience, and listen too much to the inexperienced. 

So, if the gripe is about expensive individual cables (IC, SC, PC, etc.), you're wasting your time anyway if you mix them. Few things more unproductive than someone who spends prodigiously to mix cables, using them entirely divorced from the design/intent of the manufacturer.  :(

I guess when I had my original pair of speaker cables, I was searching for something that was missing so I changed cables.  I listened to them for a while and I have had friends who use just basic wire.  They have mainly vintage systems but I started scratching my head.  What I am I chasing?  So I attached my old cables and I have to say, what was I thinking?   lol