Are all my circuit breakers wired wrong?

[BradC]

In the US, GFCIs/RCDs (where they are used) only trip individual branch circuits. Those other countries are too cheap to do it that way...

It's nice to have the choice and not have our configuration mandated where one size does not fit all.

I have individual RCDs for each circuit including stuff that by law does not require an RCD ( such as ducted A/C, stove & oven ). Because a lot of houses over here only have one power circuit for all hose GPO's there is plenty of wiggle room in the regs for how the RCDs are configured to allow for retrofits. I *could* have easily gotten away with just 2 RCDs and some downstream breakers, but given the RCDs are now the same size as the breakers it was just easier to use them everywhere in lieu of stand alone breakers and saved me the board space required to house the separate RCDs. I figured I was already spending a few grand on a board upgrade, so an extra couple of hundred bucks to put individual RCDs was cheap insurance so that when the kids put a knife in the toaster I don't lose office power or lights.

[rrinker]

 But that's exactly what we have in the US. More individual circuits so one fault doesn't shut off half the house. The outlets in each of my bedrooms is a different circuit, so one bedroom won't kill the others, and the lights are not on the same circuit as the outlets, so sticking something in the outlet and shorting it won't kill the lights so you can see to get out. Major appliances like AC and range need to be on their own circuits.
 I lean towards overkill. It was only required that the outlet to the left and to the right of the sink be protected with a GFI. ALL of my kitchen counter outlets are GFI protected, including the two that are around the corner from the sink by the range. I'm redoing my basement and the projected load would be easily handled by a single 20 amp circuit for outlets (plus lights, and a dedicated line for the furnace, and another for the laundry (drier is gas, so only use a 120VAC outlet). However, My plan will have 2 and probably 3 circuits, one to be switched - the switched circuit is where all of my model railroad equipment will plug in so that I can be sure everything is shut off by hitting one switch. No leaving potentially dangerous tools like soldering irons plugged in overnight, etc.