Maybe once in my life I put a light oil on a brake cable. My tour bike with a hard pulling Drum brake hasn't been touched in 12,000 miles/ 4.5 years/ 2 tours. My LBS guy did lube my DeR shifter stuff a few times.
I haven't had a peeling cable in 35 years. I only replace them because I won't reuse a squashed cable.
I have cut off a rear cable and used it shorter on the front.