It would be if the different protocols didn’t have the same baseline power specifications and require negotiation between controllers to supply anything else. This is generally the case across everything sharing the type-C connector, though occasionally you will see a company make the terrible decision of trying to pass off their out-of-spec implementation as a “proprietary port,” as Nintendo did with the Switch.

Is there something special about the USB-C connector on the Switch?

It's slightly off-spec in some odd ways: https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2019/08/heres-why-nintendo-sw...

There were some slightly off-spec things in current draw but none of that is relevant to the article you linked.

That pin is supposed to use data signals of less than two volts. The nyko charger uses nine volts. The switch has no over-voltage protection on that pin, and breaks at more than six volts.

The part about a slightly thinner plug isn't relevant at all.

(2) has killed people, such as the patient who was electrocuted in 1986 due to an IV pump power supply using the same connector as EKG leads. (Casey, "Set Phasers On Stun" 2nd edition, pp.177-180)

USB doesn't automatically deliver maximum power to whatever is plugged into it. The client device has to ask for it. The default 5v 500mA isn't going to hurt anybody.

Neither is 5V 2A, but that's more to skin resistance that's really high at such low voltages.

5V at 1000A is completely safe too. The only thing that matters with electrical safety is voltage, and anything under 50V is generally safe for humans, all because of skin resistance.

No, because power delivery is negotiated from a safe USB1 type base levels. If the device doesn't request it, it won't get delivered.

The only outliers are moronic implementations like Nintendo, where they ask for capabilities, receive the charger capabilities and then just start pulling power at hardcoded levels even if the charger doesn't specify it supports those power levels. But there's nothing you can do against that - you even with different port shape, a broken implementation can still fry your device.

You started with "no" (ie, it's safe)... then ended with "can still fry your device".

I infer your point: the shape of the connector in theory is decoupled from risks in power delivery... but in reality the prevalence of cheap knockoffs and "moronic implementations" makes me question the wisdom of combining [potentially dangerous levels of] power delivery with data transfer.

Didn't the charger from the Pixel not implement this correctly and send full power down the line even if a device can't handle it?

The Pixel charger was fine AFAIK. The Nexus 5x and 6P had rogue chargers

There's nothing dangerous about drawing less current than is available, or a device trying to upgrade voltage and/or current from a base level (5V 500mA) but being disappointed when the source can't oblige.