I have absolutely no idea what chintzy means. I thought it was a brand until I read the post.
I thought it was better as its supposed to pump the maximum amount of power thought the cable as per the new mega battery. I would stick to it for the iPad 3
My new MBP is exactly the same, as you've described. A few years ago, Apple included cables attached to the power brick that had a very high quality feel. They were very flexible and just exuded class.The cable that came with my new iPad seems thinner but stiffer. The insulation seems to have changed from a softer plastic to a stiffer one.