I don't know how people manage without electric kettles at all. Then again, I'm sure North Americans drink their water straight from the tap. I always boil my tap water before using it as drinking water. But it's a matter of taste. To me, boiled water just tastes less "chemical-ly". Only the plants get their water straight from the tap.
Then again, I also like tea, which prabably also explains the fondness for my kettle. Although I've never quite looked at tea in the same way after reading George Mikes' "How to be an Alien".
