[KISS]

Most extension cords you buy these days are polarized an so are many other things.

Some are cheaply made and the plug seems to be lower in quality than the socket.

So, out I was looking for a round-cord polarized plug for a 16 AWG extension cord probably about a year old.

Went to the hardware store (True Value) that sold me the cord - Nothing

Went to (United Electric Supply) Nothing on the shelf and I didn't ask about special ordering.

Went to a big box store (Home Depot) and found one for the low gage zip cords, but not a round cord.

Why?

Why don't the three prong plugs have a wide, narrow and round? It used to be that when people cut the ground off, polarity would still be preserved.

Why don't plugs have decent grips on them except the commercial ones like Hubbell which I am used too?

Why don't most plugs have decent cord strain reliefs on them?

Eventual fire hazzard?

Is this the way insurance companies make money?

[Stratmando]

I think manufacturing cost(smaller, less metal, 1 less part)has to do with same size prongs, polarity is maintained as long a ground is in place. They aren't responsible for someone removing ground.
16 gauge could be considered a fire hazzard?
I used to get shocked by a pinball machine when I was a kid, I unplugged and reinserted reversed into receptacle, and no more shock, ran into this a couple of more times in the old days before I understood what was happening, now they are mostly polarized.