Strange way to connect a GPS to a PC

I've used several different USB devices over the years and this is by far the strangest connection I've ever encountered. The standard USB connection runs to a special six pin connection on the back of the GPS receiver. I suspect the uniqueness of the connection is to ensure that it's water proof and the GPS doesn't get water into it if it encounters rain.

On one hand it’s nice that the GPS can charge via the USB or an AC wall connection. On the other, it strange to make one cable that does both. Now you have to carry around the USB cable even if you know you're only going to use the AC connection while on vacation. It would have been simpler (and probably not significantly more expensive) to just make 2 cables.

Overall, the cable is designed pretty well. It seems sturdy and can withstand some minor abuse. The 6 pin connection on the other hand uses six pin-point pins, so only the very tip of the pin touches the pad on the back of the receiver. While I haven't had any problems with this yet, I have used similar connections in the past and encountered problems over time as corrosion starts to form. Like I said though, I haven't had any problems yet but it looks like one to be anticipated. The manufacturers also failed to indicate which way is up when making the connection to the GPS receiver, and it's not anywhere in the manual. Since the pins like up with the connection in two different positions I had to try it both ways to determine that the cable should go toward the bottom of the receiver. This is the only orientation that will allow the receiver to connect to the PC.

I have also had trouble connecting my GPS receiver to my PC, but I think that has more to do with the receiver than the cable.