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I find it rather unlikely that you used SATA 20 years ago, given that 20 years ago there was only one SATA HDD on the market, and it had only been on sale for a

I find it rather unlikely that you used SATA 20 years ago, given that 20 years ago there was only one SATA HDD on the market, and it had only been on sale for a few months. RJ-45 is the only one of these that I use on a regular basis, and it’s a terrible connector. But if you’re so happy using USB A in 2023, then why would you want regulators to interfere with your freedom to choose that?

Eisenstein 4y ago
If you can give me the reason why 20 years is a significant unit of measure in cable type obsolescence instead of a round number you picked off the top of your head then I will concede that I wasn't using SATA in April 2003 and that it matters in this context. I contend that it isn't and it doesn't. USB-A: The fact that connectors can coexist seems obvious to me. RJ45: Sorry you hate it -- it works well for its purpose.
- AmericanChopper 4y ago
  My point is simply to demonstrate that the things we thought were great 20 years ago, we tend to feel differently about now. 20 years ago I definitely thought USB A was great. Today I don’t think it’s anywhere near as good as USB C, and I expect in 20 years time I’ll have a different perspective again. But the innovation that got us to here will clearly be hampered by legislating standards into law, for the reasons I explained above. So perhaps not. Perhaps in 20 years will all still be using USB C connectors, living in complete ignorance of what innovations we forewent in order to legislatively solve a problem that barely existed in the first place.
  - Eisenstein 4y ago
    But your example is trying to prove a negative. "How many innovations are stifled by regulating this connector?" Unknown. Try this: how much e-waste is created by not having a standard connector? Also: will you trade your children living knee-deep in a toxic sludgepile so that we can continually keep innovating? Maybe new iterations of connectors making entire devices obsolete every 'less than 20 years' isn't the great outcome you think it is.

Eisenstein 4y ago

If you can give me the reason why 20 years is a significant unit of measure in cable type obsolescence instead of a round number you picked off the top of your head then I will concede that I wasn't using SATA in April 2003 and that it matters in this context. I contend that it isn't and it doesn't. USB-A: The fact that connectors can coexist seems obvious to me. RJ45: Sorry you hate it -- it works well for its purpose.

AmericanChopper 4y ago
My point is simply to demonstrate that the things we thought were great 20 years ago, we tend to feel differently about now. 20 years ago I definitely thought USB A was great. Today I don’t think it’s anywhere near as good as USB C, and I expect in 20 years time I’ll have a different perspective again. But the innovation that got us to here will clearly be hampered by legislating standards into law, for the reasons I explained above. So perhaps not. Perhaps in 20 years will all still be using USB C connectors, living in complete ignorance of what innovations we forewent in order to legislatively solve a problem that barely existed in the first place.
- Eisenstein 4y ago
  But your example is trying to prove a negative. "How many innovations are stifled by regulating this connector?" Unknown. Try this: how much e-waste is created by not having a standard connector? Also: will you trade your children living knee-deep in a toxic sludgepile so that we can continually keep innovating? Maybe new iterations of connectors making entire devices obsolete every 'less than 20 years' isn't the great outcome you think it is.