The British system (BS1363) is by many measures the best plug/socket system, from automatically shuttering the live wires, to insulated live/neutral to prevent

The British system (BS1363) is by many measures the best plug/socket system, from automatically shuttering the live wires, to insulated live/neutral to prevent metal objects from shorting on sockets, fuses in the plugs to protect weaker cables, longer wires for Earth than Live if the flex is pulled out. Even 1363 has flaws though -- see the loophole at http://bs1363.fatallyflawed.org.uk/ http://bs1363.fatallyflawed.org.uk/, and of course the counterfits. Every time I use a U.S. plug/socket is scares the bejesus out of me, having grown up with 1363. However it has significant practical drawbacks. Many devices are class 2 and thus down need earthing. A flat two-pronged europlug allows a far higher desnsity socket, and much smaller footprint cables.