This may mark me as a seditionist.
For years, we've used a kettle on the gas cooker. Add as much water as you need, it boils quickly, job done.
Cost of kettle?, less than £10
Cost to boil?, less than an electric kettle.
Gadget factor rating?, zero.
Cool factor rating?, zero.
Works during power cuts?, yes. ( but so would a pan on the hob )
If the gas supply gets cut as well, as happened in 1989, it works on my camping stove.
This may be the solution for the problem of the West turning into a giant kettle while the East is a slightly under-capacity mug.
( moonbadger Doesn't judge a fish by its ability to climb trees, Mon 3 Oct 2011, 9:57, Reply)