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USB connectors don't have any intelligence, they're just a way to connect a few wires together. In that sense, they work exactly like PS/2, AT keyboard connectors, Atari 2600 joysticks, and headphones. The only differences are the shapes and locations of the individual connections.

The lightning connector isn't passive, it contains some active circuitry, so it's not nearly as simple.

Edit: seems I misread the meaning.

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A physical connector has an electro-mechanical function, and the PHY layer has an electronic function. Regardless the technology, both are always required.

So, lightning located some (small) part of the PHY in the connector rather than in the client or host (where it would likely be cheaper). Apple could have merely cross-wired the pins on each side of the connector to achieve a reversible design and thus eliminated this excess complexity.

I suspect the design is motivated by IP/counterfeit protection. I do not believe any of that benefits the end user at all.

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