I-Like-To-Bike

Wouldn't just one type and brand of breakfast cereal and one just flavor and brand of ice cream be "easier" for merchants and consumers simplify life for all?
Oh, and Busch Lite as the only available beer for bicycling ascetics!

Camilo

Exception being a brand with a fruit logo

rmfnla

Yeah, after seeing the responses here I realize the USB is not really an exception, just a standard with more legs than I expected it would have...

FBinNY 

I suspect that some people here are confusing the concepts of standards with the notion of a single standard.

Standards don't imply one single way of doing things, they simply imply a convention among the players that certain things will be a certain way, and are necessary to ensure that the parts provided by various makers will work and play well together.

There are many reasons for multiple standards, reflecting the specific issues involved. For example consider wall outlets and appliance cords. There are multiple standards here, some reflecting evolution in design such as the addition of polarization or the 3rd prong to ensure proper grounding. There are also multiple configurations according to different voltages to ensure that (for example) no one accidentally plugs a 110v fan into a 220v outlet.

Likewise, the bike industry uses standards for BBs, axle width, dropout shape, etc. so consumers can safely buy spare parts for repair of upgrade. I have absolutely no issue with multiple standards, but IMO the proliferation of hanger designs stretches credulity as far as practical need goes. (but that's just me)