First, I will state that I am not an electrician.
I do know that electrical codes specify how many receptacles are required in rooms within a dwelling, based on the usage of the room, whether it's "finished,” etc.
If you have a computer at home, and you're not there right now, picture the "computer room" for a moment. If you're at home reading this, take a look at how many "appliances" need to be plugged in.
Some of the systems advertised in the circulars from the Sunday newspaper require an outlet for:
CPU
Monitor
Speakers
DSL/Cable Modem
Printer
Scanner
Even if you have an Uninterruptible Power Supply ("UPS"), which usually has about four, most likely you need more outlets.
If you have a second computer, add on:
CPU
Monitor
Speakers
Network Hub/Router/Switch
Maybe you have a:
Television
Stereo
VCR
DVD
Throw in a lamp (don't throw it too hard), etc. and next thing you know, you need 15 outlets. (So, 8 duplexes should cover that.)
My guess is that almost every person has a "temporary power tap" or something else that is listed for "temporary" use to increase the number of outlets. These "temporary" measures are most likely "permanent."
Is this something that can/should be addressed by the NEC and/or local codes?
Can you cite examples of where codes were updated to keep up with technology?