May be decorative only —- Isn’t it due due to their wimpy electricity that it takes forever to boil a kettle and that’s why everyone gets coffee externally? Or, absolute horror, they microwave teacups….

Or has the situation improved? :)

So, about the electricity bit. We absolutely can do 240v, we just don't make tea enough for it to be worth it.

Also, I've never understood the disdain for microwave boiling. It's just easier 90% of the time