[Dr. Sivana]

I’d like to think most of those lines would be fiber, not so easy to tap without breaking, and no signal leech.

[Pearls Before Swine]

I’d like to think most of those lines would be fiber, not so easy to tap without breaking, and no signal leech.

Historically true. But 3 feet isn't much of a distance to prevent snipping by an errant plumbing contractor who makes a mistake.

[GingisK]

...not so easy to tap without breaking, and no signal leech...

That turns out not to be the case! There is a device containing a photo-multiplier tube. An unbroken fiber is wrapped twice around the inner core, and then a light-tight cover is put in place. Enough light leaks out from the bend in the fiber to be detected by the PM tube, and the tube is fast enough to follow the digital encoding.

Short story: Optical fiber can be tapped without damage.

[jimtorr]

......fiber, not so easy to tap without breaking......

Yes, it is easy. There is energy leakage through the insulation and casing.