Additionally, all the existing lightning cables would not make good mouse cords because of their length, flexibility, and lack of strain relief. Apple chose no

Additionally, all the existing lightning cables would not make good mouse cords because of their length, flexibility, and lack of strain relief. Apple chose not to allow people to keep a cable connected not just for the aesthetics but also to keep them from reusing existing cables (instead of an hypothetical lightning mouse cord) and getting a poor UX.