The benefit of using metric over other systems is in its utility at
conversion, since most people don't like to be bothered to have to do math without a calcucrutch.
That's
fine and
dandy. I can admit that, even as an
American, the metric system makes sense, except for one glaring exception that I adamantly refuse to
budge on:
Temperature is better measured using the Fahrenheit system.
"But OUR system is based on the
boiling and
freezing points of
water!" they say. SO WHAT? With Fahrenheit the
degrees of
latitude are more expressive in terms of our own physical tolerances. The difference of a mere 10 degrees means changing from a 20°C jacket to 30°C shorts. If the measurement is based on something so
arbitary as the physical properties of water, why not make it more useful by comparing it to degrees of human livability? Fahrenheit accomplishes this nicely. 0°F and 100°F are approximately the lower and upper limits that the human body can comfortably handle, taking into account the normal range of
clothing offered to us. It's a realistic, and more to the point, useful
measurement.
The benefits of metric conversion are lost on temperature. The only advantage is that you don't have to think when someone asks you at what temperature water freezes or boils (and honestly, when was the last time you cared what the temperature of boiling water was?).