It can be done in the same way that specifications for consumer electronics currently work. This router supports WiFi Hyper-Speed 5 Super Tough Technology with Ultra Frequency Crystals (R) for enhanced frequency modulation GAMING EDITION ULTIMATE FATALITY RGB.

The rise of this sort of branding is very intentionally to make comparison possible, as you don't really know anything about the Ultra Frequency Crystals and why their competitor doesn't have them, just buy whichever ones have flames and a dragon on the box and it'll work itself out.

The auto industry deals with this by assigning cars a "model year" which is the year after the calendar year in which they start being sold, thus you can buy 2021 cars in 2020.

Consumers that need to know or care can be taught.

The other half or more of the market already doesn't understand the existing versioning scheme. If you print the version in small print on the back of the box, they'll be no worse off. Or simply elide the first two digits and they won't know it's a year-based scheme.

And who's to say they can't do a yearly release cadence? WiFi 20, WiFi 21, ...

I propose using a 3 digit date, no one will even realize if they aren't a tech person.

Our 2020 router supports wifi 018