Apple can be aggressive about its tech today (such as Lightning and Thunderbolt; anyone know what they charge for those?), but back then they were much more of a niche player.
My guess is Intel probably would have backed USB over Firewire regardless since it had a stake in USB.
The irony is, USB would probably have failed without Apple.
The fact is that Intel has repeatedly chosen its own technology to promote, and until recently it had the market power to force everyone else to follow suit.
This doesn't seem to be correct. While I can't find anything with a simple search, the thunderbolt technology website is copyrighted by Intel, and Wikipedia directly attributes the development to Intel.
Iirc apple was mostly a first adapter to thunderbolt.
https://www.engadget.com/2009/09/26/exclusive-apple-dictated...
Did anyone say that Jobs never made any blunders? Does anyone think that there it any person alive that didn't make blunders?