Yes, I think connectors are now the weakest part of an optical cable.
Singlemode's biggest weakness is alignment, optics, and a big change for a single dust particle to do a double digit decibel drop.
Either terminations will have to be done with some abuse proofing ferrule with a built-in lens, or every optical cable have to be active, with a transmitter glued to it.
The later in comparison to first, solves the issue in its entirety, and is not that much of a crazy proposition today.
Even the most fancy laser chips like EAM, and MZI modulated ones, can be made for cents if the competition will made vendors to drop prices.
Singlemode's biggest weakness is alignment, optics, and a big change for a single dust particle to do a double digit decibel drop.
Either terminations will have to be done with some abuse proofing ferrule with a built-in lens, or every optical cable have to be active, with a transmitter glued to it.
The later in comparison to first, solves the issue in its entirety, and is not that much of a crazy proposition today.
Even the most fancy laser chips like EAM, and MZI modulated ones, can be made for cents if the competition will made vendors to drop prices.