Specialist cables, like the Monsters, are overengineered to some extent to minimize the possibility of signal loss under fairly extreme conditions, most of which don't apply to the average user. If your runs are relatively short (a couple of meters or so), not unduly subject to electronic interference, or otherwise compromised in some unusual manner, you can probably get away with spending less money. The digital connectors out there--HDMI, DVI, and HDMI to DVI--are much more subject to problems at lengths that most analog cables can handle with ease. But, as an example, my 2 m. digital cabling from monitor to DVI switch for HDTV and DVD cost me $12.00; the equivalent Monster cost $100. I see no difference between them, and I am fussy. I'm confident that you can be thrifty with component cables and not worry. But please don't interpret my remarks as anti-high end. In most circumstances, however, well-constructed and insulated cables that don't break the bank because of exotic materials/methods will be sufficient. You still should throw away the ones that come packaged with most mass-market components.

Ed