I wish there are easy ways to figure out the maximum current and wattage supported by a cable. So many cables don't label themselves except on the box!

Note there is a link at the end of the article to a device which can test cables and determine exactly that! But it's a sign of the problem that you need that thing.

With USB-C cables I tend to throw them out unless they are premium cables that cost upwards of $20, I mean I could keep the cheap ones around to charge this or that but cheap cables have this way of going bad, like they are supposed to work if you plug them in either way except they don't, you plug your cheap device in overnight to charge and it doesn't really charge, etc. No way I could trust my wife to handle it.

Personally I think USB got worse in a lot of ways in the 3.0 generation, like at 1.0 they designed a bus architecture that could enumerate 127 devices on a root hub. USB 3.0 doesn't promise anything and ff you start plugging in hubs to your laptop you will hit undocumented limits and find devices start dropping out randomly when you've plugged in several devices and it gives me the heebie jeebies because a mass storage device could drop out. I know mainstream filesytems today are pretty durable but still...

Personally I have stopped buying cables that do not disclose this information. There are pretty fine alternatives that do, so I see no reason to take gambles.

My only issues so far come from charging protocols rather than cables anyway.

Moreover, stuff like how many watts a cable supports are issues that happen regardless connector type.

You're welcome: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DYJL5Z67

This device let me categorize all my loose cables (and throw out the truly terrible ones). It was worth every penny.