Here's the clincher:
After I had pulled the receptacle, I had asked the owner's permission to take the picture, and had explained the problem (which didn't take much convincing... the service call was "my outlet sparks when I push on the wall"). I also showed her the new receptacle with holes in the back, and I told her that ironically, it is still an accepted practice. Her response?
"Why?"
Why, indeed... (I was left speechless at that point)
