Quote:
The purpose of polarization is to allow things like switches to be connected to the correct wire, so that when "off", there is no hazardous voltage present in the product beyond the switch. And etc..

Ah. This makes the most sense of all the reasons.

All good explanations in this thread, thanks everyone.

Follow up question:
So then why do things seem to work fine no matter which way I plug in the device? Why aren't old style plugs (or the English plugs) polarized?
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Tony Fabris