There seems to be the attitude on this forum that if the rules didn't originate from, or are not used by JAA, then they wrong/unsafe.
Some people on the forum have that attitude - but not everyone, not even everyone from JAA countries.
The Brits are famous (notorious?) for their love of rules, and for being quick to criticise anyone who bends/breaks them. Maybe it's a result of operating under the UK CAA's heavily regulated regime where there are rules about almost everything? But not all Brits think that way.
Maybe some in Europe have the attitude you describe because most of the flying is so very different from operating in the parts of the world you mention?
Good discussion - great to see the different opinions.
Interesting to see if opinions relate to the sort of flying people have done and where they've done it.