As a Brit: Can I suggest this is not because your native language isn't English.... but is beacuse you are unfamiliar with our rather sly sense of humour?
> but it was holding us back reaching many more people,
Christ mate! Long term El-Reg reader here.
The pure Blightly, homegrown, sarcastic piss taking tone is why I read the Reg, and so do many others. Selling out to some bland US-corporate bullshit WILL loose you readers.
And BTW, can we have the 'Paris' icon back? Please.
If you are renting, you are perfectly entitled to change energy suppliers and/or have meters removed or upgraded. Your landlord has no say in it. (For one thing, the meter belongs to the energy company!).
The only exception to this is if you are renting a room in a HMO that uses a common energy supply for all rooms, or if you landlord pays your energy bills.
> I was also checked at customs, where they cut the suitcase open with a knife
My first thought is to type "WTF!", however having experienced the bully-boy antics of the US police (and how the US population appears to take this for granted) this behaviour by your Customs does not surprise me.