> I genuinely don't think it's that complicated. There's a perception about that, but look at the wire protocol for a couple devices & it starts to feel extremely rote extremely quick.

USB-PD standard is 500+ pages. I remember some early adopters (before ready-made usb-pd controllers were available) complained about that, that the PD code was far bigger than rest of their gadget code. Hell, just look at amount of PD stuff that was subtly or not-so-subtly implemented wrong.

And it's like, they decided to invent their whole own PHY and wire protocol instead of just using CAN or one of the RSXXX ones, for no discernable gain.

Sure it is easier now but not because standard is, but because chip manufacturers made chips specifically to handle that mess...