I remember a bit on 60 minutes or some similar program where they parted out a Cadillac, as if it were stolen. Sure enough, the value of the parts was a little higher than the vehicle itself. But I don’t think that covered the labor.
You are talking about a “Mini-B 8 pin flat” USB cable. Many camera makers use this cable to combine the USB and A/V interface into a single connector. You can find a replacement for about $5 via Google.
Micro USB cables are also cheap. You just need to know where to look. Don’t spend $30 a on a cable.
In a similar vein, airline tickets are usually cheaper if you buy them round-trip instead of one-way.
U.S. Cellular has a hookup where they can transfer the entire contents of your phone. I would imagine other providers could as well.