$10 vs $100 power plug

If spending 100 bucks worries you, then don't bother.
That's not to say that you shouldn't do it.
I'm just saying that if you are looking for a BIG sound difference, you will be disappointed spending that hundred bucks.

There's lots of things to consider.

How good your system is at revealing changes and how adept your ears are to picking up on changes to your system.

Casual listeners usually don't hear any differences, or expect a Nad to be transformed into a Krell with a 100 buck plug.

I've had some nice results spending about 100 bucks for the nice copper Furutech connectors and replaced the cheap ones on a couple of non critical power cords(HT setup).
For me the improvement was worth the money.
But I didn't turn my HT into Skywalker studios.

But even spending 100 bucks on some decent entry connectors did not make me put my Annacondas up for sale.

I suggest you borrow some decent upscale power cords and try them in your system,and I mean cords, because the more you have of the better ones the more easily you start to hear what they are doing.

One cord isn't enough if you are looking for a system game changer.Replace them all with the same kind.
DIY or try store bought, but try before you do anything.

So it could cost you more than you thought it would.

But for some of us the cost is worth the improvemnt.

NASA, has for sale, surplus power cables, that were designed to connect the Saturn 5 rocket to it's Gantry. They Come complete with explosive bolts. Shipping cost is sort of high.
Cheers

Well... If you have a budget.. then the costs become some portion of you total cost.. or of the cost of your cables..
So anyone can decide rationally (?) to buy parts as a part of a total budget.
Solve the quandry of what to buy.
So if you are buying the equivalent of Acrolink at $60 a foot.. Then buying a end fitting for it wouldb e reasonable.
Buying $100 ends for Wire from Home Depot might be overkill.

As I have mentioned before, spending 10% of total system cost is a reasonable amount.
I discovered my cost to make power cables was as much as to buy Pangea cables. (back when the first came out. The price was lower...)
Anyway. folks can find a reasonable place within the range of A/C outlets and plugs to match ones needs.
For folks with big money, Sure, $100 outlets are great.
I personally use $3 duplex from Menards.. But that is just me.
I also use $15 Wattgate style Ac plugs in some of my stuff.
And the Pangea powercords where I can.

I sympathize with your angst and frustration over some audiophile product prices; on the other hand, I suspect if you look a little bit harder you can find a lot more to get all worked up about. $100 don't mean much in the scheme of things these days unless you have an iPod.

Some things worth coveting - the Koetsu Coralstone Platinum Mono cartridge, $15,000. SteinMusic Harmonizer $3995. Magic equipment rack, $50,000. Minus K 25BM-8 negative stiffness isolation stand, $2650. Quantum Clip from PWB Electronics, $850.

Obviously, people think it makes a difference. Otherwise, why would so many businesses dedicated to custom power cord development and distribution be so successful? We can't all be wrong on this. I agree with Horchai. Your equipment configuration is critical. If you equate the $10 cord as the "supplied" cord for most equipment, then purchasing a custom power cord does have advantages. Suddenly, it's not the sacrifice component in the equipment production lifeline. I guess if I was making audiophile equipment and had to cut corners, the power cord would be an obvious choice. Just my $0.02.