[anigbrowl]

You're missing the point. It's not that Lightning is bad, it's probably great (I don't have any iThings to compare). But left to themselves, it's entirely plausible that Apple will just abandon it in a few years in favor of some exciting new technology called Laser or Quantum or Telluric. Sure, people will complain, but they'll upgrade because there are some other great new features on the iPhone 17, plus clinging to old stuff makes people feel poor.

[dghlsakjg]

Apple has had fewer connectors than the USB standards.

USB for small devices like phones has gone: Proprietary -> Mini -> Micro -> USB-C

In the same timespan apple has gone: 30-pin -> Lightning

[anigbrowl]

Yes, but USB connectors are spread across an entire universe of devices, Apple connectors are proprietary.

[nickpp]

Lighting has been the standard for Apple devices longer than USB-C existed, since 2012. The previous standard, the 30-pin connector was introduced in 2003.