The argument that early landing clearances reduce congestion is utter fallacy. The aircraft still takes the same time to make the approach and the RT transmissions still take the same time. It is purely an evasion of responsibility and an abdication of work effort by the controllers, and it is as shameful as it is dangerous. Likewise the inability to standardise RTF within a single airport, nevermind align with ICAO standards.
That much said, landing on the wrong runway is the pilot's responsibility unless ATC gave a wrong designation, which was not the case here. Further, US ATC is not alone in its issues - Spanish ATC has a well earned reputation, and Italian ATC (and airport management) is not up to much either (also has a habit of poor communication and putting all responsibility onto pilots out of pure laziness, like in the Linate accident).
I have said it before - ICAO needs teeth to enforce standardised regulations globally, meaning the Russians and Chinese fly in feet, the US drop inches of mercury, the Iranians, Russians and Chinese start measuring winds in knots and everybody starts talking comprehensibly. We, as aviation professionals, are all supposed to be on the same side!