I would not want cable actuated brakes for a cargo bike. I would go Magura MT5s or the TRP equivalent (c 1.2 or something). Longer cable runs lead to less braking performance.

If I absolutely was stuck on cable brakes I would go TRP Spyres or Spykes or Paul Klampers with Jagwire Elite Link Housing kit and the biggest rotors I can fit on the bike ideally a Magura MDR-P (which I would use on the hydro brakes as well) and would still want the hydraulics.

My Hydraulics don't require much maintenance really just the normal replacing pads and rotors when needed which you do on cable stuff and maybe once in a blue moon I might bleed them but in 4k miles I haven't had to do it and probably won't for another 4k miles and maybe another 4k after that too. I think people assume hydraulic brakes are harder to work with because...uhhhh...maybe the very occasional bleeding which a shop can handle quite easily if you don't want to do it and every few years or more is really not much I would likely be wanting to replace cable and housing every year or two years and may have to adjust things in between that.