Connecting USB-C drive to Legacy USB host

[0004838]

I today learned that the USB-C spec expressly forbids USB-C female to Legacy USB Male adapters (see Wikipedia for the exact citation from the spec).

That self-same Wikipedia entry also states the following:

Connecting an older device to a host with a USB Type-C receptacle requires a cable or adapter with a Type-A or Type-B plug or receptacle on one end and a USB Type-C plug on the other end.

(Emphasis mine)

This has left me wondering: does the USB-C spec permit the connection of devices with USB-C ports to hosts with legacy USB (most likely Type-A) ports, via a USB-C male to USB Type-A male cable?

This is with a view to occasionally using a USB-C external HDD with a pre-USB C MBP.

I realise there'll be many opinions on this but if someone could point to something official, that'd be ideal. This is such new tech and the limitation above has caught me off-guard.

EDIT: Never mind, I've found several USB-C products on Apple's own store that supply USB-C to USB Type-A cables for exactly this scenario, so clearly it's supported.