Over time their strain relief has gotten shorter or longer https://cdn0.tnwcdn.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2012/03...
So a lot of people's memories about Apple's strain relief may come from one of their darker periods when they were super short, stiff and useless.
In my personal experience their previous laptop MagSafe had absolutely useless strain relief and mine would always start going bad within 6-12 months. https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13878908/2...
The current braided MagSafe cables actually have zero visible strain relief but seem like they're simply stronger, mine has held up well so far.
