why haven't ethernet connectors changed?

[ralph.brandt at pateam.com (Brandt, Ralph)]

Because MA Bell is still alive and well and they still use them.  They
have divine right to provide phone service, didn't you know?

Ralph Brandt

-----Original Message-----
From: Michael Thomas [mailto:mike at mtcc.com] 
Sent: Thursday, December 20, 2012 1:20 PM
To: NANOG list
Subject: why haven't ethernet connectors changed?

I was looking at a Raspberry Pi board and was struck with how large the
ethernet
connector is in comparison to the board as a whole. It strikes me:
ethernet
connectors haven't changed that I'm aware in pretty much 25 years. Every
other
cable has changed several times in that time frame. I imaging that if
anybody
cared, ethernet cables could be many times smaller. Looking at wiring
closets,
etc, it seems like it might be a big win for density too.

So why, oh why, nanog the omniscient do we still use rj45's?

Mike