I'm not an expert either, but who knows what we might learn from each other :)
GIGO is an important concept and what's lost is lost, agreed!
Balance is also a valid consideration, however.
When deciding to spend either $30,- on a pair of speakers and $3000,- on an interlink, or the other way around, the choice is easy for me: $30,- speakers have a much greater (negative) impact on sound quality than a $3000,- interlink could ever fix.
Matching components of similar quality is what Audio Note's level system seems to be all about: making sure people don't spend money on the wrong things.
In the end it all depends on the over-all level of Beto's set if it is wise to spend money on shielded cable or on something else. Don't you agree?
Regards,
Hans