[leoedin]

In addition to the other issues with this, a standard orientation would require either the PCB the connector's mounted on to be orientated a certain way (potentially having a knockon effect for other design decisions in the device) or require a whole load of different PCB mounted USB connectors. Both would add cost which the manufacturers would much rather do without. In the cheapest devices, the orientation of the USB port would probably be the first thing to go out the window, making the whole exercise redundant.

What's needed is a robust connector with an easily visually determined orientation and the sort of power transmission capabilities that the new USB PD standard has.