Do stitched edges on mouse pads really damage mouse cables?

Probably not. The real problem is your cable routing, not the stitching. Most modern stitched edges are smooth and low-profile and won’t saw through your cable unless you’re running it back and forth across the same spot for thousands of hours. The actual culprit is friction from the cable dragging across the desk or pad edge repeatedly, so a mouse bungee fixes that by lifting the cable. Focus on the bungee, not the stitching.