Why is the bottom pickup of a stratocaster canted?

The bottom pickup of a Stratocaster is canted to enhance its tonal balance and improve clarity. By angling the pickup, it allows the strings to be more evenly captured across their length, which helps in achieving a richer sound and better articulation, particularly for higher notes. This design choice also compensates for the natural differences in string height and vibration characteristics, resulting in a more uniform output across the fretboard.