There are thousands in use every day regardless of your fears.
Interesting. I'm not trying to beat a dead horse but this subject needs to be addressed. Then here is no liability to hard wire a cord reel that is feed by a ,15 or 20a circuit and essentially has
no practical overload protection for the cord reel should the cord not be fully extended when used.
If the licensed electrician does this are there obvious instruction that the user sees when using the cord reel in a *reasonable attempt" to prevent it from bring misused? If not, maybe it is the manufacturer and a UL requirement issue.
Would an electrician be allowed to run a 12ga circuit as protected by a 20a breaker and then extend the circuit with 16ga wire? It is hard wired as would be a cord real. The key is that the user does have a choice with the cord reel if there is sufficient signage to warn the user of its proper use. The cord may be 16ga that is rated for 15a in open air but when roled up that no longer applies. If the electrician leaves the installation in this condition of course it would be up to the user from that point on. But for each user to climb up to read the instructions on the reel enclosure would be an issue as that's certainly no going to happen. Wouldn't an electrician be handing a user a loaded gun by installing a cord reel that would be prone to being misused? What is the electrician's liability be should the user to this and there is a failure that leads to property loss or even worse?