More like we (as consumers and technologists) still haven't learned our lesson. A device supporting USB4 2.0 gen 2 doesn't mean that hard drive goes over 1 MB/

More like we (as consumers and technologists) still haven't learned our lesson. A device supporting USB4 2.0 gen 2 doesn't mean that hard drive goes over 1 MB/s transfer rate. A display supporting HDMI 2.1 doesn't mean it will output anything better than 1080i. Specs are meant to describe interoperability. Conformance provides assurance that they're _is_ interoperability. Certifications (like Thunderbolt 4) provide assurance that they actually support certain features, and that they are supported in a way that matters. But specs like USB 3.2 are completely forward compatible. That means they describe how a say a conformant USB 3.0 device _is_ a USB 3.2 device. What they add is a way that devices and cables that want to support 20 Gbps can do so in an interoperable manner. They don't mandate 20 Gbps support if you say you are a 3.2 compliant device. When device makers and cable makers label them with spec internal names and subsections rather than the official marketing terms and logos (like USB 20 Gbps) it is an indicator that they haven't actually proved that they are conformant with the spec, or that they properly interoperate with others who are. The market can solve this by preferring parts that aren't sold in consumer hostile ways. Problem is, those parts MAY work and usually ARE cheaper ;-)