[__d]

My partner's 12" MacBook has a (single) USB-C port, which has become increasingly loose over time. To the point where she has to listen for the distinctive sound it makes when charging when she plugs it in, and wiggle the connector until it connects properly.

So despite the apparent solidity of the machined shell, something in the system wears over time.

[dkonofalski]

I'm not trying to suggest that this is the answer/reason for your particular anecdote but it could have nothing to do with USB-C itself and simply be unnecessary physical wear put on by the user. I think you can find anecdotes in either direction for this particular case.

[__d]

IMO, all connectors have issues, some more, some less.

USB-A has proven remarkably good, despite the "insert 3-times" problem, and it's now fairly large size.

Lightning is ok -- I have found that cables lose their "snap in" ness after a while, the arcing limits the connector lifetime, and I've snapped the tongue off a few (cheap) cables.

USB-B Micro has been pretty good for me, despite the "insert 5 times" problem.

USB-C has advantages of "insert-once", and smaller size, but (in my one-off anecdata) can have issues with losing its snug-ness over time. I thought it was notable, since it was with a MacBook -- so not something badly engineered, or cheap, or whatever.

I guess my view is that it's not a panacea, and arguably, on a par with things it's replacing.

[sagarm]

Check the port for dust.