Depends which brakes and which levers. Road levers and brakes then pretty much, yah, unless you are a featherweight. I didn't bother with them this year out of lazyness and I didn't die.
Dunno what the best cables are at the mo, the Gore ride-on ones were tres bon but not available now.
Is compressionless brake housing with mechanical disk brakes worth it?
If so, which cables are best?