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I was about to jack up my bonne to investigate a noise in the brakes in the driver's front so I put the parking brake on. I put a fair amount of pressure on it, there was a pop, and then the pedal went much further. I blocked up the rear wheels and had a look. Still debating whether to do the job myself or take it in: it turns out there's a busted rotor, as I basically expected. and a bad CV boot. welp.
I usually park on a hill and use the park brake every day, but I have an alternate flat work/parking spot in the street, so for the time being it's fine.
Symptoms: If I push the pedal down about half way, it gets somewhat harder to push; The pedal doesn't ratchet. No matter where the pedal is (even if I pull it up), the BRAKE light is lit and the warning bell dings constantly. The brake isn't actually on.

Tomorrow I plan to investigate the cable - anyone have suggestions on where to start or the easiest way to check without a lift? It seems possible the problem is in the pedal - the fact that it's not ratcheting makes me suspect that. Thoughts?

Agreed, it sounds like the cable may have snapped, not sure why you think it's a "busted rotor"

I have a pad that wore down all the way and ate into a front rotor (the pads wore unevenly - the inboard pad without the little sensor tab wore down first). most of the way through fixing that but I have to go get a torque wrench that will go up to 137 foot-lb.

In addition to front brakes, I have the parking brake, which popped when I was preparing to jack the front up. Where does the cable usually snap? At the rear caliper?