Exactly! Why announce brand new products with Lightning connectors rather than USB-C (when the flagship in the category, the iPad Pro, already made the switch)?

Exactly! Why announce brand new products with Lightning connectors rather than USB-C (when the flagship in the category, the iPad Pro, already made the switch)? And same with the Pencil gen 1 only support.. This could be a way for them to save on some manufacturing costs and also offer a 'new' iPad Air and iPad mini with USB-C and Pencil 2 support later.