Hi Scott
You may be correct about the USA, but I can assure you that here in the UK it is exactly the opposite, most hobbyists learn proper chords from the offset, and enjoy delving in to there instruments to find what is in there, they also absorb all the info on the various forums and magazines about how to get the best from their instruments, this is particularly noticeable at festivals where the in depth use of the instruments from the various manufactures are the best attended. (Playing techniques also come high on the agenda)
Regarding changing manufactures, if they find an instrument that sounds better or gives them more of what they want, then they will soon change and learn the new OS system. (In fact the only reason people sometimes don’t change is mainly down to cost, although at some later stage they will always find ways to get what they want)
Perhaps the above is why manufactures concentrate more on the UK and Europe market, then they do on the USA market.

Bill