cables going from analog input devices to DSPs, mixers, etc. need proper shielding and should be as short as possible, with low-resistance connectors.

Are balanced cables applicable here; they would remove any noise, right?

As for everything else, I 100% agree. If I can’t hear the difference, then I don’t care :P honestly, the only cable that I’ve found to be important is for IEMs, since you want to avoid microphonics there. Apart from that, anything that won’t cause a ground-loop is perfectly fine.