why do people feel the need to buy expensive cable

Sure, some folks think that boats are important and watches aren't, just as some folks feel that speakers are important and cables aren't. And some folks feel that cables are important and speakers aren't. The world is becoming more full of extremists everyday. 
No wonder Trump is leading the pack of loonies.

Calling me names again?   LOL!!!  

chrshanl37, The differences between those two automobiles as well as the boats you cited can easily be distinguished through a series of basic performance tests. Unlike cables this is pretty cut and dry.

Why can't you do the same with cables?     Does different cables sound the same in your system?

However iif we were to measure these cars from a purely subjective standpoint such as asthetics or pride of ownership....well now we are wading into murky water...you know like cables.

Are you saying nobody buy cables for SQ but only as aesthetics or pride of ownership?

I build my sound system base on SOUND quality.   Nothing else matters ... pride of ownership, specifications, cost  ....

dynaquest42 posts03-19-2016 8:24amStringreen said: "...or expensive watches..."

That reminded me of when my brother-in-law bought a Rolex and was touting how great it was.  I think it was a one of the cheaper models and about couple grand.  Bottom line is that a watch is for timekeeping and my Seiko kept time just as well as his.  What he really got for his money, I guess, was a hunk of gold jewelry that said he was successful.  I'm thinking that people who, for example, buy a used pair of "Tara Labs Omega Gold" speaker cables for $7000.00 (http://www.tmraudio.com/product/xx-55) are like my brother-in-law.  They are more concerned about what "having" those cables says about them than any real improvement in speaker performance.  I have a set of pristine B&W Nautilus 803's.  I have to chuckle because this used pair of cables cost twice what my used speakers cost.

Your bottom line for a timepiece is different than others.  To some, a Rolex is sense of style or accomplishment.   I'm proud owner of 4 Rolexes in different styles.   In an unexpected consequence, 2 have appreciated 3X and the other 2, 2X.   How much has your Seiko appreciated?

I would not chuckle with B&W Nautilus 803.   I'll take the Tara Labs any day.
 

knghifi wrote 
Your bottom line for a timepiece is different than others.  To some, a Rolex is sense of style or accomplishment.   I'm proud owner of 4 Rolexes in different styles.   In an unexpected consequence, 2 have appreciated 3X and the other 2, 2X.   How much has your Seiko appreciated?


Any chance in your wires appreciating ?

maplegrovemusic

Any chance in your wires appreciating ?

What part of purchasing decisions are made from various reasons you just can't seem to grasp??   

wires might not appreciate in value, but if you buy used, usually you can use them few years and sell them for what you paid...so wires are often the best deal in audio...

I think there are three problems with this debate.

1. No one here is going to change anyone's mind
2. Anyone who spent hundreds or thousands of $$$ on cables/interconnects is NEVER going to admit he may have overspent or made a mistake or suggest that maybe what differences do occur with expensive cables were clearly not worth the money.
3. The "placebo effect" is real yet completely ignored...i.e..  "if it is supposed to sound better, it will." 

Frankly...I like the quote from this tester who himself uses "upgraded" cables:

" I use Analysis Plus, AudioQuest, XLO, and Zu Audio cables in my home system," he writes. "Does this mean you should spend more on speaker cables? Not really. Which cables offer the "best" sound for your system (and to your ears) is impossible to predict and has nothing to do with price. An expensive cable might sound worse on your system than cheap cable. Or it might sound better.

"The important thing to remember is that even if it does sound better, it's such a minuscule improvement that pretty much anything else you can do will have a greater effect on the sound. Moving the speakers, for example, or getting a different DAC, or a different receiver. Heck, even getting a bookcase and some curtains will do more to affect the sound than new speaker cable."

Above quote from: Steve Guttenberg who has  worked as a high-end audio salesman, and as a record producer. Steve currently reviews audio products for CNET and works as a freelance writer for Home Theater, Inner Fidelity, Tone Audio, and Stereophile.