> I guess at some point optical will be the only way forward.
Maybe. Though Infiniband's currently at 100Gbps per lane on a 1.5 meter passive cable. And active cables can give you a moderate boost while still on copper.
that's a giant QSFP+ cable (I think mine are at least 3/8") with tons of shielding and a terrible bend radius though.
And my cables all have a "10 plug/unplug cycle lifespan" sticker on them - it undoubtedly will go for longer in practice but it's not designed for USB-style usage where you might plug and unplug your phone a dozen times a day as you charge it.
Commercial design concerns are very different from consumer design concerns, basically. Phones would probably be easier if we had a 1/2" x 1/2" x 1.5" connector with a shielded connector body! ;)
Maybe. Though Infiniband's currently at 100Gbps per lane on a 1.5 meter passive cable. And active cables can give you a moderate boost while still on copper.