The FAA controllers will only give clearances that the FAA allow them to. You have to start with ICAO Annex 11 and then go down to PANS ATM. From there off to the US AIP GEN 1.7 to the filed differences. No remember, that a State has to file the differences, but it does not have to comply.
If you do this, then you find that the FAA has not even realised that PANS ATM has replaced PANS RAC. OK, so the differences from Annex 11 are a single page, and PANS ATM is 9 pages. The differences have been filed "in the interest of improving the safety and efficiency of the air traffic services"
Now you know what the FAA controllers are meant to say, but then if you dig around in FAA Order 7110R you will find what the controllers actually have as a manual to work from.
Please blame the muppets in Washington and not those in the tower. And I support what you say about getting the damn clearances to be safe. Still, if they get round to killing a 777 load of American pax with a US pilot confusing taxi to the holding point with taxi line up and hold, then we might get them to listen. Yes, it happens, but the accident has not happened yet.