IPod Touch 4g USB Charging Cable(s!) Not Working. Went through 5 in a year.

Question

I've had my 8 gb iPod Touch 4g since November 12th, 2010. I bought it from Target (so its not covered under warranty anymore) love it and use it for many hours every day, but there is a problem with the USB charging cables.
When I got my iPod, it came with the standard Apple charging cable. That cable worked for a few months (maybe... 3?) and all of a sudden stopped working. When I used my friends cord, it worked perfectly fine. She had the same exact model and cord as I did. I ended up just buying a replacement cord, thinking that this was just a fluke or whatever. No such deal. I purchased a third party cord from amazon, and it worked for a few months again. (Let me note that I also got a car and wall charger with it, those work perfectly fine to this day.) Once again, all of a sudden it broke. And again, I tried a friend's cord and it worked fine.
I ended up buying a third and fourth cords, which was also third party, and after that broke, I was fed up and went to the Genius Bar for an appointment. I explained my problem, and they made an appointment with me. Eventually, they just said to buy another cord, this time Apple brand. I did, and it has been working fine up until tonight, when it just stopped charging.
When I say that the cords broke, I mean that all of a sudden they would stop charging my iPod, no matter where I plugged it in. (computer, wall, car, etc.) It would/will only charge if I bent it a very certain way, and then I would need to hold it there, which I obviously can't do for hours. (;
I would take this apple cord back now, since I believe there is a warranty (although, I need to double check that when I can get to the papers.) if it weren't for the fact that, from use, the coating/white plastic of the actual cord has split and you can see a few of the wires. I will have to double-check if this is covered, though because of the outside appearance, I doubt that they would take it back. This has not happened with any of the other cords, however.
What should I do? Would restoring help this problem? I have been contemplating the idea for a while, but having to re-download/etc all of my apps, music, etc., is not the most appealing idea to me.. I have reset a few things a while back, though I cannot remember what they are, sadly.
Currently, my iPod is running iOS 5, as I just updated it about a month or so ago. Before that, it was running what the iPod touch 4g originally came with... I believe it was 4.2.1?
I really love my iPod, but am fed up with having to buy cords every few months, as I have gone through four or five in just a year.

Answer 1

I think stevejobsfan has misunderstood your problem.
You specifically state that in one case you can see the inner cord and wires of the lead. So, either - you are mis-handling the cord or a pet is chewing it. So, if you don't have a pet - it's you.
When you remove the cord from the iPod (or from the other end of it) you should handle by the plug, not the cord itself. If you pull the cord you are straining the connection between the cord and the plug and that will eventually cause that connection to break.
If this had happened to just one cord, maybe it's the cord. If it happened to several of the same make from the same source, perhaps it may have been a faulty batch. But for it to happen five times, with cords from different sources and different manufacturers - everything points to the cord being handled too roughly.
Buy another cord - but in future, remove it by gripping the plug and not by pulling on the cord. This applies to any cord or lead, including mains powered devices. If you have any other cords for any other product, I suggest you check them for damage because damaged cords can be a fire risk and create a risk of electric shock. Mains voltage can kill.
Another thought; if you wrap cords - including headphone leads - around anything (such as the charger itself), wrap it loosely. A tight wrap also strains the cord to plug connection.
Message was edited by: the fiend