There isn't a particularly Pareto-better solution (other than better labeling, as you suggest). One of the things I find particularly aggravating though is the

There isn't a particularly Pareto-better solution (other than better labeling, as you suggest). One of the things I find particularly aggravating though is the discussion that goes approximately "it's outrageous that I should have to buy a new cable for my device <glares menacingly at Apple pre-USB-C>" followed almost immediately by "yeah, it turns out I have to buy a new cable for my device <because reasons>..."