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People rip on US electricity standards all the time, from voltage, via frequency, to the NEMA plugs, and for good reasons. But the most disgusting thing about it all is this:
US breaker panels are fugly. Sure, they work just as well as those from the rest of the world, but they're aesthetically displeasing.
Two representative pictures I found of an average panel just now;
US:
EU:
Thank you for coming to my TED talk.
wait, how do you route cables in there? is there just a massive bundle right through the middle?
I'm Australian, but some of the older switchboards in industrial installations are similar in appearance to the top image.
The middle would have a busbar (or three if it's a three phase panel) that connects the circuit breakers to the main switch. The cables are connected to the far left and far right sides of the breakers.
It could be different in the US, though, if anyone with more relevant experience wants to chime in.
Edit: looking back at the top image, I'm reminded that the US uses split phase in some places, so that top panel likely has two busbars down the middle.
Varies with installation type, age, and scale, but one common approach is to daisy chain the breakers via rails that carry each phase. I couldn't find a good picture, but basically the rails and breakers are standardized so that a row of breakers will line up with the-rail terminals, so when you connect the rail to the mains you're good to go. On the output of the breaker it's common to use cable ducts to keep everything nice and tidy.
EDIT: Found a picture:
american version would probably only have two phases at best, and possibly just one
Every building receives 240V and splits it into a pair of 120V phases. Three phase power is basically only installed at large industrial sites or very specialized shops.