Half grandfathered in from a period when UK was a commonwealth, and ANZAC were not technically independent.

ISO-3166-1 has a lot of “countries” that aren’t actually independent - but useful to have codes for because they are geographically distinct.

ccTLDs are based on the ISO two letter country codes - it’s deferring the responsibility for cleaning up the British mess to ISO

GW are notorious for demanding creative veto. Not because they want to interfere but to maintain continuity.

So even if the quality goes, it won’t ruin the canon.

Nope. They already have .mu

Once the treaty is signed, the .io cctld will phase out over 5 years.

Unless ICANN get greedy and grant an exemption.