You’re really overselling how big of a deal gold plated connectors are. Here’s a stereo 1/8” TRRS cable for $1.54 that has gold plated connectors. You even have to scroll down the page to see where they mention it because it’s seriously not that big of a deal.

I have a bunch of old audio gear where every time I use it I have to jiggle and rotate the audio connectors to clear the corrosion or else the audio will cut out and yes, I’ve used contact cleaner. It doesn’t have to look visibly rusty to be an issue.