What do you mean by "cable-type"? Are you talking about the plastic-coated, round ring with the little bar across the middle? If so, they are safer if you get hit in the face, but they can also break. They distort and get pulled out of shape, and because of this bending or "crimping" action, the cable can eventually break at the point where the hook attaches to the bottom of the ring. So if you use them a lot, they should be replaced occasionally when they develop that elongated, distorted shape.

Rick made an unexpected departure from our boat at least once, maybe twice, because of the ring breaking. We switched to stainless steel.