B.Girl: OK, I take the point about easy proof of payment and that can be helpful. With e-banking, it is true that one have to mask off the part of the statement that you do not want them to see, whilst you photocopy it.
In the UK, we also used to have cancelled checks sent back to us but this stopped more than 15 years ago. The main reason was to stop the truck loads of paper criss-crossing the UK every day. When a bank receive a check now - they keep it on their premises and it is handled electronically from then on.
The issue about clearing delay is still something that some folk like to rely upon. I reckon that the sooner the money is out of my account - the better - so that I cannot spend it again!
Zoner - thanks for the info regarding hours building.