"My point was that they are not ALLOWED to think for themselves.
I was constantly frustrated by the system when working US reg aircraft."
Really...... Well, Like I said, that's not the way it is done from my experience. Did you work for a US airline or was your employer contracted to undertake the maintenance on the US registered aircraft? If the latter is so, then that is where the difference is. I work for a US airline and can accomplish all of the items that I mentioned previously without any outside interference. As I said earlier, I am expected to use my own knowledge, training and skill to safely maintain the aircraft IAW the approved documents/manuals.
If you work for a contracted maintenance organisation, then you will have restrictions and limitations to work that you can and cannot perform, on other operators aircraft using their procedures. I know that the US system is different in some respects, but to say that A+P certified mechs/techs (there is no difference) cannot think for themselves is not at all true, believe me.....