Revealing mistake: While Lucy is out on the ledge, if you look at the pipe as it runs from above the ledge to below it, the two pieces of pipe don't line up. They are off about the full diameter of the pipe. Also when the pipe pulls out, it's obvious the pipe is on a hinge at the bottom and not really attached to the lower pipe. Later, there is also no stream of water falling from above where the pipe was supposed to be connected as a drain even though it is pouring out.

I Love Lucy (1951)
1 revealing mistake in Lucy and Superman - chronological order
Starring: Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance, William Frawley

Lucy Gets Ricky on the Radio - S1-E32
Visible crew/equipment: At the start, after Fred and Ethel walk in, when Lucy and Ethel walk away from the kitchen shutters carrying things, the stage microphone and stand can be seen at the right side of the screen. (Later in the episode, when Lucy and Ricky appear in the quiz segment an identical microphone is on stage with them). (00:00:35)
Lucy Ricardo: How much do you want to bet?
Fred Mertz: Ten dollars.
Ethel Mertz: Well what's the matter with twenty dollars?
Ricky Ricardo: What's the matter with thirty dollars?
Lucy Ricardo: What's the matter with fifty dollars?
Fred Mertz: What was the matter with ten dollars?
Trivia: It was the first to tape before a live audience.





Answer: There is no reason. It's a just a silly plot device, typical of the era. Women characters were often portrayed as making uninformed assumptions or decisions.
raywest ★