Apple should care because customers will blame slow charging times and slow transfer speeds on the phone

I think Apple much rather tells users that this is exactly what they warned them about when they were forced to support USB-C and will advise users to only buy official cables from Apple.

You mean USB-C, the standard that they largely led development of?

No, they mean USB-C, the port they switched all but a handful of their devices to before any other manufacturer.

While GP’s take is ridiculous (if common), I do think the notion that Apple led the charge on USB-C is mostly a myth, outside of them being active participants on the USB Implementor’s Forum.

Eh, I can’t find it now so a thousand grains of salt, but I read a good article back in the day about how much Apple’s experience with in-market Lightning shaped USB-C’s physical connector and electrical handshake.