When fishing through attics and down walls the conduit in the link below works well. It's very flexible and easer to fish down walls than smurf tube.
http://www.alliedelec.com/Images/Products/Datasheets/BM/ALPHA_WIRE/ALPHA-WIRE_INTERCONNECT-WIRE-AND-CABLE_7080067.PDF
Im sure that cable isnt as cheap as smurf is!
It's conduit not cable and you're right it's not as cheap as smurf tube.
But it's a whole lot easier to fish in walls and attics than smurf tube. You have to factor the labor into the equation. The labor can quickly eat up the money you saved by using the smurf tube.
If it's new construction and open framing it's a different story.
It's really not that expensive for small jobs such as installing wall mounted televisions and you're just running a short distance to the equipment rack.
http://web4.automationdirect.com/adc/Sho...ectrical_Tubing