Interconnect lengths

The close proximity of components often means that interconnecting cables of a metre or more means a proliferation of coiled cable behind the average audio rack. The thickness of cables combined with a longer length than is necessary, in terms of distance between the components can also cause problems with the positioning of smaller, lightweight components.
It is rare to find interconnects of less than 0.5 or 0.6 metres and many begin at 1.5 metres.
Is there a scientific reason for different cables being made to minimum lengths? Also does the application, material or the construction have a bearing on this? I have read that in certain instances longer cables of one type sound better than shorter cables of another but the whole subject of different sounding cables seems to be contentious!
I have always thought that a shorter cable would be preferable because of capacitance but I suspect there is a lot more to this than I appreciate.

Hi, long cables can be a bind, particualrly like mine they have tended to be very inflexible.  I too am suprised that cable lengths are ofertn longer than really needed: my cable supplier tailors the size to my needs, whether mains (one very short cable 2cm outside of the plugs!), my others are typically 20-30cm, interconnects again sized to the cm and speaker cables unequal lengths.  Some manufacturers (not wishing to naim them or russ to any conclusions) I believe suggest there are optimum or minimum lengths though this may well be down to the peculiaries of their own cables.

Maybe we need U bend shapers like we have on the outlet hose of washing machines.

Shorter the better on analog IMO, although I agree about the mechanical challenges. I think others here have suggested that the 1.5m Lautus sounds better for digital than a shorter Cusat50.

John Cadman at GSP made me a custom cable so it can be done if you ask. Mine is a 0.6m Cusat50 version of the R-3 cable, which I am unashamed to say is both better made and better sounding than my DIY version.

Shorter won't be much cheaper because it takes just as much work to make a 0.6m cable and the expensive parts like the phono or other plugs are the same.

My sad experience on the cable mess/snake nest behind the boxes is that a new bit of kit arrives just after you've done the tidying.