Why do people completely ignore the fact that the OG Apple Pencil always came with a charging 'dongle'. The little adapter connects between a lightning cable and the connector on the pencil. It was, and still is, in every box. You could use that adapter between a USB C to lightning cable and your pencil to charge off a new 'budget' iPad. That adapter was always meant to be the way to actually charge the pencil. Sticking in the end of an iPad like a giant lollipop was for pairing and a quick charge for expedience.