That is not at all a recent thing.

Example: the first iMac mouse in 1998 was round. A casual observer might not realize how misguided this is until they try to use one for 5 seconds and can't keep it in the correct orientation.

Another example: dreadful charger cables that predictably break. It's been this way for at least a decade now.[2]

[1] - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_USB_Mouse

[2] - https://www.quora.com/Why-do-Apple-chargers-always-break/ans...