Geekhack is a community primarily focused around mechanical keyboards. When you spend >$200 on a keyboard, $30 for a handmade USB cable to match your keyboard isn't too bad. Given the amount of customization you could have in a USB cable, mass production isn't cost effective and that's why they're handmade.

Having just downsized to a smaller more central apartment, I can understand this. There's no room in this place to shove my array of techno toys in a cupboard; instead, there's an ugly corner of the room that's currently a mess of cables and junk. I'm sizing up a little rack cabinet and some rack-mount gear to hide/tidy things into, but even then, if this thing has to sit out permanently, I can see the appeal of a braided network cable or some such to make it a little less unsightly.

Shrug.

It’s the same thing with hand-sleeved PC cables. If you have to have cables, it’s nice if they look good. Especially if you have a good color scheme going, why settle for a boring black rubber cable?

Reminds me of people who buy chrome "dress up kits" for under the hood. I'm partial to the "rad rod" look myself :-) i.e. all go and no show.

Look at audiophile stuff. Audio Nervosa is a serious condition.

Remember, silver conductors affect the bits as they move through the cable, and can enhance the highs to clarify your music. /s

Someone has to supply steampunk themed items for those not crafty enough to do it themselves...

See Pexon PC's in the UK for pioneers of this.

(No link, go Google if you want... Not affiliated)

Some people buy custom made braided cables for the design as well as more flexibility than standard plastic/rubber ones.

Aesthetics.