Cables last forever unless you bugger the ends. Housing lasts 10 years or so. They degrade so slow its hardly noticed, until replaced.

Especially with down tube shifters or barcons. Integrated shifters go through cables far more rapidly.

Especially with shifters that latch into position instead of simply having an index detent (such as earlier Ergolevers), if the Lo-limit screw is set on the tight side, then each time that the largest rear cog is engaged, the cable gets over-tensioned which accelerates the fatigue cycle to failure of the cable. This gets worse on frames having exposed cable routing (where cyclic frame flexing translated into cyclic cable over-tension, leading to strand failure).

I like Triflow whenever I need a very thin oil, thinner than 20-weight 3-in-1. I've used to lubricate brake calipers/fiber washers and inner cables. It works well and the bottles come with a thin tube when you need to reach tough spots.

I've had luck with brake cables lasting if they are cared for and lubricated. I've got one bike still running its original double-ended cables, which are just shy of 80 years old. They work fine. (Triflow helped those as well).

Aztec Duracote cables have been very reliable for me.

I spent time on the Alligator website, selected what I wanted in both shift and brake cables, recorded the part numbers. Then an internet search using those numbers, got about zero hits. Went back and did a search for Alligator cables, at least found some, descriptions do not indicate if I am getting the exact items, but I ordered some anyway. Time will tell.

I have never been disappointed by any Jagwire or Shimano product.

Agreed on Jagwire. Have not used Shimano yet. Let's see if the Alligator cables are worthwhile.

Jagwire is my preferred stuff.

I skimmed through this thread but did not see an important bit of info. Campagnolo shifters (and thus cables) use a smaller head. The cables for Shimano, etc, have a head that either will not fit into the shift lever recess or will jam in so tightly as to be hard or impossible to remove. I always keep a few genuine Campagnolo cables on hand for that reason
.

I agree, the size of shifter cable heads can be an issue. None the less, I always go with my bulk choice. Not all that hard to file the transmission heads down to fit nicely, in case that matters to anyone - takes less than five minutes to do so.

As for the not seeing an important bit of info. Not sure I would agree with that, considering that you did just share an important piece of information. Tough many Bike Forum members have seen/hear/read this or that, time and again, there will always be the first time user who does seek information. Wish I had know to use nylon lined casings coupled with teflon coated stainless steel cables when I got started. That said, the old school cable/casings did not last forever. More than once, a vintage road bike has reached me with cables so corroded, inside and out, that they were seized into place. Just something to consider even though it does not happen often.