Anything beyond the pinch bolt is meaningless so frayed or not simply doesn't matter, except for cosmetics or the risk of stabbing a finger when working with it.
We allow 2" or so of cable beyond pinch bolts as a matter of convenience, should we ever need to loosen the bolt and adjust the cable length. If not for that reason, we could trim cables down to the bolt with no issues.
__________________
FB
Chain-L site
An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.