[embee]

The main thing is friction losses in the cable, "stiction" and the like, so hydraulic is often used where the loads are a bit high (bikes anyway). Good modern lined cables get round a lot of this.

The downside from the manufacturer's point of view is extra cost, weight, assembly time etc., though it does mean that cable runs are not an issue, the need to avoid sharp bends. Also a plus point is the self-adjusting aspect, like brakes. Like most things, it's a cost-benefit analysis decision. Most cars have cables because of the cost of manufacture/assembly.