As I understand it, one of the reasons earlier iterations of the USB standard were popular with manufacturers was that it was logistically and administratively

As I understand it, one of the reasons earlier iterations of the USB standard were popular with manufacturers was that it was logistically and administratively easy. You didn't have to license a bunch of expensive patents and certification is quite easy. Going against that might be possible, but it strikes me as perhaps difficult to get implementors to go along with.