[Voltages and frequencies](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/70/World_Map_of_Mains_Voltages_and_Frequencies%2C_Detailed.svg/2754px-World_Map_of_Mains_Voltages_and_Frequencies%2C_Detailed.svg.png) are bad enough but [**plugs**](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e4/World_map_of_electrical_mains_power_plug_types_used.svg/2560px-World_map_of_electrical_mains_power_plug_types_used.svg.png) are on another level entirely.
Small appliances differ very little, if at all, and some brands can be found nearly everywhere – yet manufacturers (or users themselves) need to adjust them to local standards… that are there for what reason? Why can’t a universal standard be agreed upon?
There is a cost of adopting a standard, of course, but can’t adoption be gradual – e.g. replacement at EOL?
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