The problem with trying to introduce a universal standard is that somebody, or in this case a great many people, would have to change from their existing standard to the new one.
Just think how much different electrical devices might be if we could start afresh with a worldwide standard for power connectors/voltages, a single standard for TV, a single standard telephone connector, and so on.
Re the IEC equipment connectors, it just occurred to me that in many countries (e.g. the U.K.) a lot of fuss is made about having shutters on wall receptacles, yet they don't seem to object to these non-shuttered trailing sockets on power cords.
