Why have I waited so long, and wasted so much time and money on cheap rounded cables before now? Just got a full set of Akasa round silver braid cables (IDE, Floppy and SATA). Only cost around £16 delivered, and they are so much better than any other round cables I've used so far. And the silver braid, as well as looking class hopefully does something in the way of shielding the cables.
So next time you see those cheap cables and think about giving them a try, just don't bother. The money you 'save' will be made up for when you have to take them out due to having problems with them.
I sound like an Akasa pimp don't I?