I've had a number of problems with cable releases, mostly the cheap ones with vynil housing but also a pretty nice cloth wrapped one I used for a while. The usual problem is the housing pulls away from the shutter end, but other troubles include cable binding and fumbly locks that don't stay put, or worse, lock when they shouldn't.

Surely somebody has figured this out by now, I just haven't found one in any of the pro shops I've been to in LA. I do a lot of timed exposures that need to be nailed just right so I don't mind paying top dollar for something that works.