With computer tech, available at the time of introduction, all currencies simply could have been pegged and the nationalistic fervor never stimulated. The fact that wasn't done is a symptom of the control freak personalities of economists and and underlying desire to break the spirit of common people to effect neoliberal policies confirming their Pavlovian Skinnerian theories.
Same thing with postal codes, never necessary, especially in Britain. Unique names like "The Oaks, Somerset" are actually easier and have more possible combinations than numeric codes, and of course more meaningful and easier to remember. the Canadian postal code is particularly egregious with its letter number letter -number letter number. Even computers have trouble with it, confusing 1s and Is and 0s and Os. Just an unnecessary obsessive exercise in controlling others.
