The majority of countries adopted 1.5m - their outcomes have been better than the UK. What is wrong with WHO guidelines when they are based on scientific evidence?
In countries such as the UK where people still measure themselves in feet and inches I'm absolutely amazed that so many people appear to understand the 2 metre rule! The USA has by and large never heard of or taught the metric system, so asking an American, unless they've lived or worked abroad, or work in the technology or scientific sectors to keep 2 metres distance would have been totally pointless.
Adopting 1.5m would have been more reasonable, from a reopening standpoint. Think about it; in a space of length 6m you can fit 3 people / operatives at 2m spacing, but at 1.5 metres that increases to 5 people. All industrial sectors would be in a much better place when it comes to reopening profitably. Doesn't really apply to sitting in an aeroplane of course, but might help capacity management in terminals, bars, restaurants and other airport related retail. And with airport operators, retail = revenue.