Val D.
Very Senior Member
Because it's a standard in R&D...
It's a marketing game. RT-AC86U is positioned as a successor of RT-AC68U. It has similar external design and similar name too. ASUS sees people who upgrade from RT-AC68U as potential customers for RT-AC86U - same price range, direct replacement. People who upgrade from RT-AC88U are potential customers for RT-AX88U - same price range again, direct replacement.