[sjwright]

A valid argument if USB cables were durable in the hands of the typical ham-fisted end user... AND if the EU forced all phone makers to stop bundling USB cables and chargers with every phone.

I mean this is pure hypocrisy; the EU couldn't even standardise wall sockets. What next, are they going to force all mains devices to use the IEC C14 socket? Perhaps they should levy a steep tax on all aftermarket USB cables?

[jhasse]

> AND if the EU forced all phone makers to stop bundling USB cables and chargers with every phone.

If all bundled cables were the same, people could reuse them more often.

[sjwright]

Surely forcing change will cause more wasted cables than maintaining the status quo.

Plus Apple uses lightning in many more products than the iPhone; so unless they're going to force companies to standardise on cables for charging set top box remote controls (for example) then it's not going to have the desired effect long term.

[jhasse]

> Surely forcing change will cause more wasted cables than maintaining the status quo.

Not in the long run.

[sjwright]

While we're at it, let's ban Displayport and force everyone to use HDMI. Oh, and all headphones must now connect over USB-C, as 3.5mm TRS is banned too.

[jhasse]

HDMI, Displayport and 3.5mm TRS will all be replaced by USB-C at some point. It's a little too earlier to force it though.