I guess it wasn't a "UK thing". It's a ceiling/wall light intended to be connected with the room wiring through the terminal block. But you are right, it's not hard to connect a power cable with a plug the same way. However, return and rre-order can be cheaper and faster if there are no "older persons" nearby
Yes, this specific light is made for direct wire. The point was that significantly more 40+ year old people in UK would know how to wire a plug onto a cord than in USA or most other countries.
@1:35