Re: patch cable or mic cable?

Well, as silly as it sounds, I'll have to agree and disagree...
For the most part, yes wire is wire and most ears will not be able to tell the difference.
But, in a high end, extremely clean monitoring environment,
a good set of ears can tell the difference.

Something to also consider in a permanent installation is the construction of the cheaper cable verses the high-end SUCKER RIP-OFF product that I use in my studio.
Through personal experience I have noticed that some of the cheaper cables have a problem with oxidation of the wire that can catch up with you after a couple of years...

Could I hear a difference in my studio after I replaced all the Beldon 8451 with high-end SUCKER RIP-OFF product?
Yes.
Could I hear a difference between most any xlr cable between an ME66 and a DVX100?
Not likely.

As a side note the high-end SUCKER RIP-OFF product that I use has a lifetime warranty,
the cheaper cable does not.