As a pilot in the American Air Farce, I've never understood why the rest of the world does not agree to the American standard of FL180. No, we certainly are not right all the time in the Land of the Free, but changing altimeters to FL at 3000 feet seems to invite terrain clearance problems. It's so late in the approach that it can be missed and causes the problem on departure of "stop climb at 4000" instead of climbing to FLs. FL 180 is high enough that you are well away from any terrain.
Can't wait for the hoots.