It's interesting to me how the US government is so protective of it's market that even in the face of a pilot shortage they will not make it easier for properly certified and rated europeans to enter the country and work. I swear sometimes I think apart from marriage or winning the lottery the only way to get into the states is to float ashore on an innertube from Cuba.
Personally I prefer flying in the US over europe and I'd do that any day. Unlike europe where aviation in general is treated like something nasty, in the states I found it receives a lot of attention. Flying in general is promoted and the americans take a very practical approach to it. Just the fact that you can carry a pocket version of the latest regs in your flight bag to me is excellent, instead of this obscure binder system we have in JAA land. Here flying is meant to be difficult, with burning hoops to jump through just for the sake of it. Make it cost a lot, and make it difficult and we'll see who prevails kind of thing I guess.
The cheesecake is better over there too...