You mean analog cables like those shown in the picture?
Only (consumer) digital audio cable i own is a usb headset and apparently gold plated usb is so stupid there not even trying to sell those.
I am not convinced that the meme author didn’t know what they where doing and this is ragebait though.
Yes. “That isn’t exactly free” indeed.
We give power to greed and it has corrupted our institutions. We differentiate far to little between personal ownership (to maintain and survive) and private ownership (to profit and expand) when it comes to taxes.
Any system where people will die from lack of resources should be abolished.