Well, it's a lot easier than hamburgering
cable together.
I guess--using crimp type DC37M connectors, it's not a big deal to go
from 50 conductor ribbon to DC 37. I've even got a couple adapter PCBs
that go from 50 pin to 34 pin headers.
Of course if you want to get fancy w/ the FDADP: www.ibm51xx.net ;)
-Ali