OzExpat:
Here is tG-III crash you referred to in case you find yourself with time for some light reading. While a circling maneuver was not a factor in this crash, the VOR/DME to Aspen is a circling approach. This very issue of terminology was a factor as you will see near the bottom of the report.
While I would certainly have no issue with the adoption of Pans Ops approach criteria in the US, I too don't think it will happen any time soon. As well as the reasons you state, I would add that the big push these days is to commission more straight-in RNAV/GPS approaches including WAAS enhanced LNAV/VNAV. Precision GPS approaches to ILS equivalent minimums are just around the corner if funding is provided. The FAA seems quite committed to this. WAAS upgradable boxes are selling like hotcakes. There's no solution more popular with government than one which requires new hardware! We'll see what happens. These new approaches ARE pretty slick though.
Best regards,
Westhawk