[cmurf]

The industry could have used UDF. Derived from ISO 9660, but it supports read-write random access storage.

I'm guessing they didn't if FAT12/16/32->exFAT driver changes are comparatively simple, and/or results in a smaller code base to support FAT32 and exFAT on the same device (e.g. a camera).

[mikece]

And on a camera that costs anywhere from USD$1000 to USD$6500 does the cost of an exFAT license really matter?

[vetinari]

Yes, it does.

If you manufacture 100K of them, and save 10 dollars on every piece, you got an extra million in savings.

[xxpor]

From the wiki, my understanding is the licence is $0.25 a unit, not $10?

[vetinari]

It was a number to illustrate a point, not exact figure for this specific case.

Yes, the manufacturers will go great lengths to minimize variable costs. If they can shave $0.25, they will. At volumes, it matters.