[grepnork]

Because it's a great deal easier than replacing the logic board after the user ripped the Ethernet port out of it or filled the usb ports up with crap.

I repair used macs. The number 1 problem on all the pre-2012 MacBooks is damaged ports.

Not for nothing, all of these arguments were made when Apple switched from ADB to USB, to Firewire, from 30pin to lightning, and they're being recycled again for the switch to USB-C.

The answer to your question is that each one does something better than the last in terms of portability or data transfer.

[culturestate]

My working assumption has always been that Apple makes decisions like this just because they can, frankly.

I would do the same thing if I had the same power to move markets that they do - no need to put up with legacies of the past when I can just force everyone to follow me toward whatever I consider the future to be.

[grepnork]

USB provided device portability over ADB and higher transfer speeds, lightning doubled the data transfer rate available to any other device available in 2011 and stopped ports breaking due to 'fluff', firewire provided faster transfer speeds and networking features.

USB-C provides zero insertion force sockets, a single replacement for any plug of any kind from monitors to networking, 24 pins, and 40Gbps speeds.

Reliability. Speed. Adaptability. User convenience.

[pcdoodle]

I have to call BS on this. We've fixed MacBooks since we started in 2009 and we've done ZERO port replacements.

Dropping magsafe is when we started seeing port damage. Most problems on the 2008-2012 models are logic board related.