zebedee,
You are right, it is a rant, but I like it anyway, and after all, that is what counts, not precision!
BTW, if you think weather is why a greater number of American pilots own and operate their greater number of aircraft (per capita) then I invite you to a nice flight from Bridgeport Connecticut to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania at 2100 on a typical winter night, and again on some August afternoon at 1500 hours.
European weather is actually a nice training ground to help a pilot practice and get ready for real flying, zebedee!