I agree with the article - treating the EU like the USA is the core issue here.

So many people are arguing over and over that the EU solutions won’t benefit consumers in any meaningful way. And they’re right - because that’s not what the EU is trying to do. It obviously is painful for everyone who owns lightning cables to have to buy USB-C cables.

The EU is trying to benefit businesses. That’s their job - make sure the EU is a good place to do business (if you play by the rules anyway). This will, in the long term, benefit consumers indirectly since it creates a thriving competitive market where you have to offer good products at fair prices to be successful. Those lightning cables were going to wear out anyway, and USB-C cables are technically better and also cheaper.

The US approach is to try to achieve that long term goal directly, but they rarely actually succeed. The EU’s approach is the right one in my opinion. But even if you think the EU is taking the wrong approach that doesn’t really matter, like it or not that’s the approach they are taking and trying to fight it is a waste of time.