This post makes me wonder what I do differently. I've some cables wired up here that are easily 5+ years old and I've had micro USB charging ports survive daily plug/unplug cycles for 4 years. My number one cause for cable-related malfunction is when I don't plug something in correctly.

I think the mouse that feasted on cable insulation in my backpack may actually have made it to second place. That's an entirely different story...