> It is like we've gone back to having many different types of connectors
Not quite. Before, if the cable provided by your device manufacturer failed or was lost, you had practically no chance to replace it other than buying another overpriced cable from the original manufacturer. Keeping a backup around for every single device was often infeasible. Now you have a very good chance of finding an adequate replacement, even of a reasonably priced exact replacement if you work at it.
"But you can fry your Nintendo Switch now!" Well, yeah, but built-in signaling and negotiation has kept such cases rare enough to make the news, and it wasn't impossible before. Maybe not with the smaller devices using unique connectors, but back then it was common to reduce the number of adapters by carrying a "universal" one and a bag of tips. Set the voltage wrong and BZZZT fried laptop.
So it's complex in different ways but I agree with those who say that thinking it's worse requires some serious rose-colored glasses (or not having been an adult during that time). I'll take being able to charge nearly a dozen different devices, from earbuds to laptops, with the same one charger and cables, even if that cable doesn't provide absolutely full functionality for every combination. Carrying around a bunch of separate connectors and (usually built in) cables really sucked. In practical terms, it left people stranded without any power option, or with an actually dead device, even more often.
Not quite. Before, if the cable provided by your device manufacturer failed or was lost, you had practically no chance to replace it other than buying another overpriced cable from the original manufacturer. Keeping a backup around for every single device was often infeasible. Now you have a very good chance of finding an adequate replacement, even of a reasonably priced exact replacement if you work at it.
"But you can fry your Nintendo Switch now!" Well, yeah, but built-in signaling and negotiation has kept such cases rare enough to make the news, and it wasn't impossible before. Maybe not with the smaller devices using unique connectors, but back then it was common to reduce the number of adapters by carrying a "universal" one and a bag of tips. Set the voltage wrong and BZZZT fried laptop.
So it's complex in different ways but I agree with those who say that thinking it's worse requires some serious rose-colored glasses (or not having been an adult during that time). I'll take being able to charge nearly a dozen different devices, from earbuds to laptops, with the same one charger and cables, even if that cable doesn't provide absolutely full functionality for every combination. Carrying around a bunch of separate connectors and (usually built in) cables really sucked. In practical terms, it left people stranded without any power option, or with an actually dead device, even more often.