>>28036 Yeah, they're shit. There's usually a better solution that is less likely to result in half-engaged plugs. I'd be reasonably happy to see them banned, but I can't see how you could/would.
Mate fully, or not at all. Them's the rules.
>>28039 It's more the mechanical loads that offend me. Mains sockets are only designed to have plugs and their dangling wires hanging from them. These abominations add leverage where it's not expected, and unwelcome loads if you trip over the cables. If all you have is a regular plug, it should pull free before damaging the socket. With these abominations, that's not the case.
If you're just plugging a couple of chargers in, then meh, but if you've got trippable-overable cables, or a couple of fan heaters, then fuckno.
>>28043 Not him, but they're definitely preferable. Just make sure the lead is unwound, or at the very least not forming loops. Self-inductance isn't anywhere as near as dangerous as one of those old blocks potentially blowing, but it can potentially reduce the amount you're able to usefully draw.
I wouldn't use one of those old blocks because most plugs have some kind of USB charger attached to them now and their irregular shapes mean you can only plug one thing into them at a time.
>>28045 It's not an inductance thing, it's just resistive heating. If it's all coiled up, there's nowhere for the heat to go. As I have failed to explain to my beloved when she tells me yet again that the pressure washer is broken, having been using it on the 100m extension lead still on its spool, smelling of hot pvc. Fuck's sake. /101/ worthy.