Item — HN Reader

USB-C was the first to grind my gear. Believe it or not I like the feel of the lightning plug and still prefer it over USB-C. I don’t care about transfer speed or whatnot for my phone I use the cable exclusively for charging.

EDIT: In any case it’s not even the lightning vs. USB-C that matters it’s the fact that the plug is mandatory. What if someone discovers a revolutionary plug someday? Well too bad, can’t use it because EU decided USB-C is perfect.

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It's not only Lightning, it's the myriad of other, sometimes totally custom, power connectors. Perhaps you're too young to remember the times when a laptop, phone, headphones and game console all required custom adapters?

I know and remember. But the industry had already chosen USB-C, the legislation was kind of a bit F U to Apple more than anything else and I’m still convinced it was completely useless… except it has in effect prevented anything new to appear ever. Everybody is happy of this change because USB-C is an ok plug (and better than everything that existed apart from Lightning AFAIK), but it’s still something that should never have been done.

Right, I can see your point. But I think you're too optimistic and the convergence to USB-C would be a lot slower were it not for this legislation.