I purchased a tiny PQI flashdrive and I don't understand the design of the USB plug at all:

If you consider the contact bars closest to the insertion edge as 7 different contacts numbered 1-7 (ignoring the short break on contacts 3 & 5), then the standard 4 usb connections will use contacts 1,3,5 & 7 when inserted into a USB socket. However, some USB sockets seem to be slightly 'shallower' and I have to insert the drive 1/2 way. If i fully insert the drive and it will fail because it will short the 2 inner usb contacts on the center contact (stretched hexagon shape) . Sorry for the confusing wording.

Does anyone know why they use this bizarre design?

because it's thin

A few weeks ago I was read somewhere that the new USB 3 will have an different Connector but older connectors still should works. So I think this drives having maybe the new connector already?!

Cheers.

I have a few devices with connectors like that (thumb drives, bluetooth etc), and pretty much all of them give me headaches with bad connections.

Have to manually keep them pushed upwards/sideways to keep connected etc...