> defending the BS 1363 power plug that needed an embedded fuse because their domestic postwar electrical wiring was Not Great

Where would you put the fuse, then?

Also, if you think that's "Not Great", just take a look at the concentrated pile of sketchiness that passes for domestic wiring in the US. Every single house in the US is an electrical fire waiting to happen - and with "balloon frame" construction which is purpose-designed to both reduce construction costs and ensure the complete destruction of the building with even a minor fire, you've got plenty for that to work with.