RE: clevis or z-bend?
Personally I like a Z bend on the servo, and the clevis on the control horn, but clevises on both ends should work fine.
Like Campgems said the cable looks like the quicklink looks like it is binding, either the keeper is too tight or the hole in the servo horn needs to be drilled out.
Another thing I like to do with cables is to tin the end with solder so it has no chance to unravel.