SASLess,
We have had this discussion before on this forum. It all boils down to culture. Right from the word go, Americans are taught to be independent, self reliant and courageous.Risk taking is valued. All good qualities if you have to win the wild west, open a business after quitting a well paying job or invent the airplane. But the down side : risky behavior,anti -authority(dont' want the FAA or anybody getting into my stuff!) and,in a single pilot operation like ours, deviations from standard procedures that go unchecked.The key difference is that the rest of the world will not do anything unless it is specifically authorized, whereas we Americans will do everything that is not specifically forbidden.
Hard to change a mindset of a culture. Wouldn't you say?
Alt3.