Narky, I wonder how much is accidental and how much is intentional. We've done some thing to consciously distance ourselves, while secretly clinging to our heritage. For example, we drive on the right side of the road and our horses and race cars go counter clockwise just to show we don't need your rules...
By the way, if I believed in emotes, I'd put a rolling eyes face at the end of the last paragraph.
Okay... Who'da thunk this?
When a pirate grows rich enough, they make him a prince.