I agree. That's why I've never bought an ipad for an e-reader. I do have an iphone though, mainly because apple does a much better job than any android maker that I know of with patching for security issues. My Samsung tablet has seen I think 2 security updates since I got it. I'm not that concerned, since I pretty much leave the wifi and bluetooth off unless I need to load new books on it.
You can get a lightening to mini SD card adapter barely as big as the mini SD card. I have one each for lightening and usb C with 512 gig mini SD cards, works fine.
People talk like usb C cables are simply like an extension chord they are not they contain micro processors that determine how much current or data the cable will handle. There are cables that carry 5, 10, 20, up to 40 megabit data streams, but they all look alike, how cool is that? The charging rate is also determine by the type of cable, so to be sure you get the best, use the best cable which I think currently is a thunderbolt 4 type.
The EU would have done better to mandate the type and size of the charger dongle than the connector of which there are many, same with power tools. Car batteries are more standard, at least in size, and the world still turns.