As someone who works on a lot of standards, I can say there are two common misconceptions

1. Typically, standards and certification are entirely different. 2. Standards may not follow semantic versioning - e.g. a major version may not indicate a loss of either backward or forward compatibility.

The protocols defined in USB 1 are still allowed in USB4, as are the cables and connectors. HDMI is the same way. Saying something is USB4 or HDMI 2.2 compliant is not a stronger statement than saying they are USB 1.0 or HDMI 1.0 compliant.

Likewise, statements like "USB 3.2 Gen 2x2" are garbage. The correct terminology is "SuperSpeed USB 20Gbps". Why do so many products use the incorrect, more confusing terminology while omitting the official marketing name? Often because they are not certified products.