Electric generation in the USA

[Terry]

 Modern electronics makes transforming DC voltages relatively easy and much equipment would be fine with a DC supply. One annoyance would be switches. It's much easier to switch AC as the arc extinguishes at each zero crossing.

Hence the once universally popular toggle switch with its spring assisted quick make and break contacts.

I doubt if today's slow switches would last very long - they aren't much better than the simple switches I made as a schoolboy with a construction set and brass strips salvaged from an Ever Ready 1289 4½V battery.

If you're not familiar with the 1289, here's a modern version - note the long and short brass terminal strips.