Fair points framer. It was just a bit of banter.
To continue.. my own personal experience regarding the different regs are that with FAA registered aircraft any maintenance/pilot write up has to be reported to the Maint Control Centre (MCC) and it is they who determine what action should be taken. The Mechanics do as they are told. In the rest of the world (EASAland and others that use the same system) the Engineer/Technician has been authorised to use the full range of documentation to certify and release the aircraft. That includes SRM, AMM, MEL/CDL etc. Of course if it's something very unfamiliar and finding the correct reference document is proving difficult and time consuming then a courtesy call to MCC is in order as they can offer advice and between yourselves can isolate the correct documention to use. That is why ALL action taken has to be recorded with a reference. That enables anyone further down the line to refer to the same documentation if clarification is required by a pilot or eng/tech etc.
Anything that is outside the limits of SRM/AMM/MEL etc will require an EO or other dispensation from a suitably authorised source such as the manufacturer or national regulator. Or we get our toolbox out and fix it.