Comments by "Traveller" (@traveller23e) on "Power outlets are topsy turvy - but does it matter?" video.

Here in Italy Schukos are the bane of our lives...all the larger appliances come with them (or the ungrounded version for some reason) meaning you either have to cut off the plug and replace it with an Italian 16 amp one or use an adapter. "Why not just install one of those fancy outlets that can take both Schuko and Italian plugs?" I hear you asking. Well, here's why: those outlets tend to work terribly with Italian 10 amp plugs, catching on the part where the prong insulation meets the metal tip. This is particularly bad with europlugs (identical to the traditional ungrounded Italian 10 amp plugs except non-rewireable). Additionally, Schuko outlets take twice the space of traditional 10/16 amp Italian ones in the most common compatible socket assembly designs. Some designs, particularly older more traditional ones, also have smaller plug faceplates (I mean the little rectangle of plastic around the socket, which also normally is the size of a light switch) which do not support sacrificing two Italian outlets for one Schuko.
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@AelwynMr Lol only applies to new devices, and only in some situations. If it's on the end of a kitchen blender or hair drier I really don't care and it's just a question of whether the joy of not using an adapter is worth the effort of rewiring. It's also sometimes convenient to have a standard Italian 16 amp plug on the end of a power strip that came with a Schuko, not to mention standard AC computer power cords (in one situation for example I had a spare cord set up at my desk with a short cable and a right-angled Italian plug as that was what fit best, then I had a separate cord for travelling etc).
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@naszfluckah7314 The plug doesn't make contact until the insulated portions are about halfway inserted, so it doesn't make a lick of difference whether or not it's recessed (barring equipment with really old plugs, like you might find in an antiques store). I'll also comment that Schuko plugs normally do not have sleeved prongs but rely on the recess instead; at the end of the day it doesn't matter from a safety standpoint which you use, you just need to pick one. Personally I prefer flush outlets and dislike Schukos for a number of reasons, mostly to do with the fact that the outlet is over twice the size of our traditional 16 amp outlet and at least the versions sold here work badly with the europlug as well as some Italian 10 amp plugs (they snag horribly as you unplug the plug). Sadly a lot of heavy devices get sold with Schukos anyway, leading to adapters being an essential household item. Rewireable Italian plugs are pretty cheap though so at least they can be replaced as needed for the application.
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@richjhart The reason a Europlug has narrower pins is so that it's compatible with Italian 10 amp plugs. I hate the Schuko sockets because they work badly with our plugs and are needlessly clunky: twice the size of an Italian 10/16 amp socket in compatible designs, with a larger size difference for Italian socket assembly designs that do not support Schuko sockets.
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Here in Italy you can get a replacement plug of any of the standard types for a euro or so, so all you need is a screwdriver and wire strippers and you can fit all your appliances with whatever plug works best. Just please make sure not to replace a 16 amp plug with a 10 amp one and then try to draw more than 10 amps.
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Tbh here in Italy I prefer our standard 10 and 16 amp plugs because they have all the advantages of the Schuko but are significantly smaller on both plug and outlet.
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Depends on the country, in Italy they are not normally recessed (though exceptions exist). I personally dislike recessed sockets in the Italian context in part because right-angle plugs don't fit in them. They are also arguably harder to clean and probably unnecessary due to our prongs being sleeved. The obvious exception are Schuko outlet/adapters, which due to their design must be recessed.
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