Most modern appliances sold in Europe have double-pole switching, so polarization is hardly an issue. Concerning table lamps you're simply advised to pull the plug before changing the bulb. Also our light sockets are built to ensure the bulb loses contact to both terminals after only a fraction of a turn. The screwshell itself isn't connected to the terminals like it is in US sockets. So all countries who _have_ Schuko consider polarization pretty useless. Even French and Swiss, whose sockets are polarized if grounded plugs are used don't really care about how the receptacle is wired. I think the french ones don't even have markings on them, so it's your choice where to put hot and neutral. I once heard the weird theory that horizontally mounted receptacles should have the hot on top, 'cause in case of a flood the hot would be flooded last...
A bit OT, but: People are selling quite strange stuff here. I recently got an old external MO drive the original owner purchased right here in Austria. On the back it had 2 NEMA 5-15 outlets. Never seen anything like that before! Power input was standard IEC computer connector.
