It's a general comment based on reading the nonsense folk write on social media and not aimed at anyone in particular.
Possibly, but in theory the government could have mandated this anyway.
I'm not even sure why a SMETS1 meter can't be read by others. (I think mine is SMETS1 and I've changed provider and they've not had any issues reading it).
I think the problem is the gov seem fairly happy to let providers off the hook on the basis of "too expensive".
It's not just lecky meters, for as long as I've been around private companies have bid for gov contracts and underdelivered and yet folk still buy into the "private is best" nonsense.