The only "issue" I had, was that you often ended up without the proper one when you needed it. Almost all the cables came with the device which needed it. Only bought 2 which were longer.
What issues do you experience so frequently that it would justify investing more money into it?
Q: What issues do you experience so frequently that it would justify investing more money into it?
A: ... often ended up without the proper one when you needed it
That's precisely the issue GP solves by only carrying one type of cable, Thunderbolt. If you want to transfer data at top speed, render high resolution high refresh rate video, or charge at maximum wattage, TB4 handles it. One cable to rule them all, no surprises.
If you are on anything different and want to hook up, say a Studio Display, you can't use USB-C (below 4) and that is not USB-IFs fault.
Besides that, what I meant was the connector standards mix before USB-C has become mandatory here, and I think you knew that. Other than that, all what you wrote is also determined by the devices connected, so this may be why most of the people out there don't even realize there might be a reason to buy Thunderbold.
If it's in my backpack or used for a dock/monitor, it's going to be a Thunderbolt cable.
Expensive? Absolutely. Unnecessary? Almost certainly. But I haven't had any issues with them whatsoever.