Yes, I would be stunned if any cable sold as a balanced cable was not truly balanced. I think people are getting confused due to the fact that many so-called balanced inputs and outputs on equipment are not balanced, and extending that assumption to cables.
A lot of the reason for the difference, IMO, is that in many cases the balanced cable is quite different from its namesake single ended cable, and in others it isn't.
So, for example if you use a 3 wire braid as a single ended cable the best sound comes from connecting two to the earth and one to the signal. For a balanced cable you connect one to each of hot, cold and ground (and putting more conductor on ground is not beneficial.
But in other designs I have seen the wire involved can be 50% more or 100% more in the balanced version of the cable. And the balanced connectors can cost 3 times as much in some high end lines. Whether this justifies a higher price to you depends on whether you are an economist, a cost accountant or conspiracist.
A lot of the reason for the difference, IMO, is that in many cases the balanced cable is quite different from its namesake single ended cable, and in others it isn't.
So, for example if you use a 3 wire braid as a single ended cable the best sound comes from connecting two to the earth and one to the signal. For a balanced cable you connect one to each of hot, cold and ground (and putting more conductor on ground is not beneficial.
But in other designs I have seen the wire involved can be 50% more or 100% more in the balanced version of the cable. And the balanced connectors can cost 3 times as much in some high end lines. Whether this justifies a higher price to you depends on whether you are an economist, a cost accountant or conspiracist.