My external non-expert impression (which could be totally off-base; I don’t have inside sources) is that folks making devices like phones and tablets were jealous of the reversibility, faster battery charging, and size advantage Apple could obtain with Lightning jacks, compared to the ridiculous extended USB 3.1 Micro-B jack, and started clamoring for a better connector sometime in ~2012. Once Apple realized such a new connector would be coming with or without them, they decided to throw their weight behind it and make sure that the connector met all of their own needs.
Apple certainly isn’t the only party (or even the main party) responsible for the new connector, but from what I’ve read they do deserve some applause for putting their resources in and making sure the new connector is the best it can be.
That all agrees with how I understand the situation as a fellow external non-expert. I just got really frustrated a while back by all the 'Apple invented USB-C' and even the 'Apple basically invented USB-C' headlines. So wanted to applaud someone for choosing the phrasing 'much of the work' which I believe to be a correct statement, and if incorrect only errors slightly on the side of too much credit.
Apple certainly isn’t the only party (or even the main party) responsible for the new connector, but from what I’ve read they do deserve some applause for putting their resources in and making sure the new connector is the best it can be.