Being completely serious for a moment. (ish!)
Let's say you've got a microphone worth £200, a mixing desk worth £1000 and an XLR cable worth £10.
If the cable is broken, the other two parts of the equation become essentially worthless!
I admit I do get a bit anal about it, but, I've seen too many broadcasts ruined because of faulty cables. (and it's always the lead singer, not the Hi-Hat or Snare bottom...bugger!)