The quality of the cables you buy and how you treat them is an idependent issue from that of the 3.5mm jack. I've had more iPod and phone charger cables (read

The quality of the cables you buy and how you treat them is an idependent issue from that of the 3.5mm jack. I've had more iPod and phone charger cables (read - digital cables akin to what a new headphone jack would use) die than I've had straight analog audio cables die.