In article , Michael A.
Terrell wrote:

What bugs me is that anyone with an iota of technical competence can
in a matter of minutes determine the connectivity of a mini-USB cable
or a USB charger using only a $10 multimeter.

You're wrong. You can often buy digital multimeters for less than $2 at
Harbor Freight.

only if there's a harbor freight store nearby and if it's on sale.
that's not going to be the case for most people.

They do mail order as well.

but then there are shipping charges, bringing it closer to $10. and
it's actually a $3 meter, not $2.