One benefit (that I have no sources for, but have seen it mentioned before), is that the USB C socket/cable setup is designed such that the cables wear out instead of the socket. The moving parts (the bendable contacts) are in the cable, so if/when they break. You throw out the cable instead of the phone.
I don’t really know how it works for Lightning (Apple) cables, but presumably they have also considered this when they designed their connector. I haven’t personally heard of iPhone sockets dying early, so maybe it doesn’t really matter?
I have used sewing needles to get stuff out of my phone’s socket, and that has been fine, but it’s probably unwise. Thinning out a toothpick with a knife is probably safer, and has also worked for me.