add new camera setup + a few more questions

[st moose]

working with old tech here so that might be contributing to my issues :)

had a storm here last night - lost the video feed from one of my cameras (it's an old USB web cam on a extender cable that is pointed at about a 70º (gets some cloud pictures during the day and some nice lightning flashes during storms)

when i looked this morning the video feed was back?! -- thought ok maybe camera got wet in the storm and has dried out but then tonight (about 7 hours later) the video feed is gone (no storms) -- unable to open video device error 

power cycle the RPi4 - unplugged/replugged the USB extender cable - tired to add camera - have 5 different options for the add USB camera - try them all - all fail - unable to open video device error

thinking extender cable has gone bad - remove cable - plug USB camera directly to RPi - same port -- tried to add camera - but now only have 2 different options for add USB camera -- try both - one worked - other did not

thinking test extender cable - unplug camera - plug camera into extender cable - plug camera into extender cable - extender cable to RPI - now all is working?!?!

1st question - why the different number of optons when plugging in USB?

2nd question - why working now with extender cable? -- maybe my antique hardware is really failing and showing its age? :)

3rd queston - (maybe unrelated) -- looked at the cameras the are plugged into this RPI - the one that hasnt had any issues yet shows video device as /dev/v4l/by-id/usb-GenesysLogic_Technology_Co.__Ltd._USB2.0_UVC_PC_Camera-video-index0 where as the one that has been having the issue as /dev/video0   -- dont know if that has anything to do with anything least enough my disappearing/reappearing video feed