They always had Ethernet. Removing it was just a money grab, I bet they probably just broke even after the requisite retooling of marketing, packaging, and splintering of the SKU for support coverage. Especially since there wasn’t a good reason for omission such a different form factor, necessitating trimming down the size or space on back panel.
I agree that all should support the same protocols, and see this as yet another reason why there should only be a single SKU.
Ethernet support is fit for this purpose on a device that doesn’t move, requires high bandwidth and low latency performance for video streaming a doubles as Home hub for reliability.
They could have just simplified everything by just including Ethernet and ensured protocol compliance/compatibility across the board and charged a median price between the splintered SKUs.
Little to no advantage to the consumer in doing so, other than giving them the -perception- they are making a choice to save money. You aren’t, Apple just built in the cost across a wider horizontal scale and making a case for further distinctions between SKUs, like my original comment about them choosing which port to charge more for next.
