I never understood this sentiment. That would be even more true if USB-C wasn't the standard so I don't really understand the complaint. Obviously "same shape" isn't an indicator that it will "just work" for USB-C, so why would we expect that to be the case for anything else with modern complexity?
It would be nice if fits == works but that's just not a world we live in, USB-C or not.
Basically, things that require extra ICs are now being shoved into "one connector for all" thing with no way of telling them apart.
No, that was already not the case with USB 3 devices not working when plugged in a USB 1 slot. Not made easy when some computer or hub have both USB 3 and USB 1 port on the same machine and you must remember the color code.
I recall that one time when I tried to configure the bios of a computer and the keyboard wouldn't work in the bios because it was connected to the "wrong" usb port that was not powered in that stage of the boot