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, ...