Here's a story that I think will illustrate why xDSL services have such a cumbersome name. The short answer is that it was developed by the Telco industry in the US, which uses way too many TLAs (Three Letter Acronyms). SNI, DS3, OSS, DTC, RMS, SS7, MTP, SNI, .... and you get the picture. Pretty much any three or four letter acronym has a meaning in the Telco domain.
However, here's a better way to explain it:
One of the Regional Bell Operating Companies (RBOCs) decided to diversify their business and after many months and dollars with consultants they decided to purchase a fast food business. They choose Kentucky Fried Chicken, since they already have changed their name to KFC, which was very much in line with the Telco way of thinking.Soon after the new management team was brought in (all were from the RBOC marketing department), they decided to launch a new advertising campaign. The slogan for the new campaign?
"We sell Hot Dead Chicken".