I feel Cabaye is a useful option rather than a certain starter now. As others have said, his arrival made other big names see us in a different light as a possible destination. Adding Townsend and Benteke has definitely made us more attractive to transfer targets, but Cabaye was the first eye-opener.
As one poster said, he's a hard tackler. I've heard his tackles described as somewhat agricultural.
At the age of 30, I guess he hasn't got much of a resale value so keep him as back up & give him sufficient rest time to get back to full fitness. With injuries and particularly suspensions in this heavily carded role, I'm sure he'll have opportunities to perform.

I agree his form has dipped, but he's still a far better footballer than Ledley.

I think he's judged very harshly by some because he was our first 'international' signing - if you compare his performances to most of the team, he's usually one of the better players, but because it's Cabaye, it's not considered so.

This is the major problem when judging this position that people get wrong. It doesn't matter about who is a better a footballer in the DM role imo. It's nice if you find one that can play a bit as well of course. What really counts is effectiveness in this position. Something that Jedi had in spades was effectiveness. Do I feel that Cabaye is as effect as a DM? Not really.

"We love you Palace, we f@cking hate Man U, We love you Palace, we hate the brighton too, We love you Palace we play in red 'n' blue, so f@ck you, and you ...

He was pretty effective this time last year.

Being a good DM isn't about flying into challenges or winning headers like Jedinak. It's about reading the game, intercepting the ball, squeezing the space, covering your full backs and not giving the ball away. Cabaye is excellent at every one of those.

Employee of the month is a good example of how someone can be both a winner and a loser at the same time.

I disagree, he lets opponents run through unchallenged on many occasions, (Bournemouth, Spurs, Everton, Norwich), dwells on the ball too long passing the ball ten metres here and there and putting our own players under pressure by keep passing the ball back to them in the same spot they have passed the ball to him so they are still under as much pressure as when they gave the ball to him.
It is no coincidence we looked more fluent and positive in the last league game we won against Stoke when he went off at half time , and again against 'Boro on Saturday, the last two league games we have won. In fact in you look at important stats the last 4 league games we have won , Cabaye only played 90 mins in one v Norwich, and it was not much down to him.
Anyway , just how I see it watching the games.

Of course it matters who's a better footballer.

Cabaye was amongst the top 10 in the division for tackles and interceptions last season, so I'd argue he's very effective as a DM.