I'm still using some MIDI cables that I bought circa 1981 from Radio Shack for $4 apiece. A couple of them are handy 20-footers. They've been stepped on, rolled up into cable bags, had drinks spilled on them, pins bent and re-straightened. They all still work.
The great thing about conventional 5-pin DIN cables is you can use quite long runs without problems. I've even connected two 20' cables with a F/F junction and it worked fine.
I will never use USB for MIDI if I have a choice.
If there is any caveat I can think of, it's to avoid the Monster brand.