cables, interconnects.. ect.. $$$$

You definitely don't have to spend a fortune on cables to get great sound and performance. Black Sand, Signal, and Virtual Dynamics is a good place to start. Even the big name brand cable manufacturers, which often have astronomically priced products, have excellent cables at the lower end of the price spectrum.

Plus, you can find good deals here on used cables. Have fun!

No you don't have to spend another $3000 for cabling. Set a budget that represents 15% - 20% of the cost of your system. Then start trying out cables. Many vendors (Morrow Audio, Grover Huffman, Reality Cables, Ven Haus Audio, etc.) have 30 day or more trial period. You could also call Cable Company and borrow from their library. Buy used cables if possible, preferably those that are easy to flip if you don't like them.
You'll definitely be able to find some cables that fit your budget and will sound just fine in your system. Just put in the effort to listen.