I have to admit the 240v (2kw) kettles are impressive.
Evidently the Brits and their offspring down under are pretty impatient when it comes to their tea.
The delta on a liter of water is over 50 degrees a minute.
You can boil it in about 2 and a half minutes from room temp water.
It goes a lot faster if you only make a cup or two at a time.
We even have 3 kW kettles that will boil 1 cup of water.
http://direct.asda.com/George-Home-3kW-Fast-Boil-Kettle-With-1-Cup-Boil---Various-Colours/001585253,default,pd.html
Anyway, some things are better with detachable cords, and some better with fixed. I don't want detachable cords on table lamps or most other small appliances. I certainly don't want them on kitchen appliances where they could drop in the sink. I've already drowned the kettle base unit once too often where it held onto the kettle when I lifted it, then detached itself while over the sink.
Also, with few exceptions, we're only allowed hard-wired appliances in bathrooms (no sockets / receptables) so having detachable cords on washing machines, hairdryers etc would be awkward there.
