@WatAWorld - So of the differences have to do with when the national standards were set. Some the differences are relatively easy to handle (change the power supply for 110/220) others are not so easy.
As far as losing technical leadership, the US certainly will be facing a much more competitive landscape in the future - there are plenty of very bright engineers, scientist, etc. outside of the US that this will happen as their home countries develop.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
