Sure, it's better for the planet to have less USB C chargers in some abstract sense. To accomplish that goal, Apple could have included lightning-USB A charger cables, which everyone has a brick for. Instead, lightning-USB C. Either USB-C chargers are better than USB-A (and in several respects, sure) and the planet should have more of them, or just provide USB-A compatible charging.
This choice was dumb even if their expressed environmental intent is authentic and it wasn't a marginal revenue grab.
My only Apple USB-C device beside my new iPhone 12 Pro Max is my MacBook Pro, so at least now I’m forced to get quick charge times with the 87W brick that looks absolutely ridiculous charging my phone.
Yeah. My only USB-C device is my employer MBP I got two weeks ago. I've never owned a USB-C device. It's pretty laughable that Apple thinks there are enough USB-C bricks in the world when first-world tech workers largely don't have USB-C bricks/devices.
Is this still really the case? My Pixel 3 is USB-C, as was my 1st gen pixel. The Nintendo switch is USB-C as is the pro controller. Heck even my vape pen is USB-C charging now.
I feel like USB-C has proliferated sufficiently. Not denying your perspective, just offering an alternate one.
I have other USB-C devices as well, but most of them shipped with an A-to-C charging cable, and if they included their own brick it was a USB-A brick.
The only USB-C chargers I've had included with a device are from my iPad and my laptop. For those of us in Apple-land, that started around 2016 for laptops and 2018 for iPad Pros. The iPad Air just went USB-C a few months ago, and the base model iPad I assume still comes with a USB-A charger (though I didn't check).
But at least with USB-C instead of MagSafe I can get a $17 multi-port charger with 60W power delivery and 3x USB-A ports to hook up at my desk, and keep the laptop brick handy to toss in a bag or use elsewhere without digging it up from under my desk every time. https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=24425
I'm not saying you're wrong, either! I just don't have any USB-C stuff myself (aside from the aforementioned MBP). My phones have all been lightning <-> USB-A for the last decade or so.
My wife does have a Nintendo Switch, so there's that. (IIRC, the Nintendo Switch's USB-C is non-standard? I might be misremembering.) I don't think I could use it as a phone charger on a regular basis, just for logistical reasons.
This choice was dumb even if their expressed environmental intent is authentic and it wasn't a marginal revenue grab.