This is not just confined to the USA. I talked with the inventor of the Heli-D Wing back in the early 90's. Bizarre bit of kit that had no chance of getting airborne, and has since been added to my list of 'Flights of Fancy'.
The inventor didn't need any help from anyone. He was going to flight test this new device himself, even though he didn't have a private fixed wing license, let alone any helicopter time or any flight test / development flight time.
Fortunately, he couldn't raise the money he needed to get started, and all he got made were some interesting models...