I have broken one cable. It was getting hard to use before it broke and was smooth and easier new. It was not melted or bent. It just wore out.
I also replaced a racing clutch set with a HD Ford one, including a new cable, and it is more street able. I can get the HD one smelling hot with enthusiastic driving, but it will let me leave smoothly at stop lights. The X disc set was a bear to push and had no slip except at the tires.
Clutch disc and pressure plates are often sold in matched sets. So yes, the pressure plate has the hard springs on it, but referring to the clutch set is perfectly acceptable.