"David Nebenzahl"

Actually, there is at least one application which depends on there being 2
phases in ordinary residential power distribution panels: the so-called
Edison circuit. This is where two circuits are run with separate "hots"
and a common neutral, where the neutral conductor is the same size as the
hots.

The only way this can work is if the two circuits are separate phases (in
this case, 180° apart), so that the currents cancel in the common return
conductor.

Apart from this, we wouldn't care if the two legs of the power company's
step-down transformer delivered the same phase of power (just give us the
juice! who cares about the phase?).


** Remember the BBC 1960s TV show:

" Never mind the quality - feel the width "


..... Phil