Redmane,
The European system - for once I will accept that the UK is in Europe, geographically if not politically - does not typically run a 'two-phase' system as you describe, at least not in northern Europe.
The majority of European systems are 400V/230V with 230V being the line-neutral voltage. Your humble opinion is, in this case, also in error.
There are huge differences between the NEC in the US, the BS7671 IEE Wiring Regulations in Britain, and whatever the rest of Europe uses. Even within Europe we can't agree. The electricity itself is similar, electrons being electrons everywhere, but it is untrue to claim that the US and European systems are broadly similar. In some respects they are poles apart.
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If we learn from our mistakes,
I'm getting a great education!