darn it- just when you think youve learned something of value

ok, confession is that 3 months ago i thought speaker cables were speaker cables. then i come to find out how they apparantly make your system sound "warmer" more "open" more "tansparent" give "tighter bass" and the list goes on. coincidently i found out how stabilizers under your components can give you better soundstaging.
ok, so i started to believe all this stuff. because when i searched the net, sure enough, i found rave reviews by rave reviewers supporting all this jive. btw, im still undecided.
but, these are my questions now:
do different speaker companies sound different?
what gauge is best, and at what point do gauge sizes become sheer fabrication?
finally, will a 14 gauge, or 12, or 10 (see question above) from Radio Shack sound any less good than JPS labs $2000 ones?

your honesty is noted, but not a convincing factor (lol)