afaik, electric kettles are more efficient than stove kettles, and microwaved water is incredibly dangerous, since there isn't any cavitation points for the boiling to occur the water can become superheated, meaning the second you put something in to the cup or jug or whatever, that contains the superheated water, it is basically going to explode.

Also, microwaving water is just fucking weird. I think kettles are more commonwealth countries, given the history with tea and the british and stuff, whereas the US is more coffee based, so less need for kettles and stuff. I have never owned a coffee machine or anything that makes coffee, I currently do not own a microwave, i have always had a kettle. I have never had a kettle that beeps.

Technology connections did a good video on yt

It's the easiest and fastest way I can boil water. If I had induction and a fitting kettle, it would probably be equally good while taking less space. I once looked what kind of stovetop kettles exist, but none seemed good. Also, with the context of this post, you may guess how I feel about a whistling kettle. I just want to boil water, not listen to high pitched noises.

An electric kettle is more efficient and faster than a stovetop because better contact between the element and the water.

It's fast as fuck. 2 cups of water takes 2 minutes.

I've never microwaved water because the kettle is just faster (NZer with 240v here) but recently switched to induction stovetop, and the "P" setting sends 3.7kW into a single element. It's ridiculous how fast you can boil water on that puppy. I don't really use my kettle anymore.

For Brits (who drink tea on the regular), and because they have a 240v electric, tea kettles heat faster than stove top and are very convenient.

Since Americans don't have tea like Brits, and we are more coffee-centric, kettles aren't very common.