Re: According to Japan, and the rest of the world, America is Crazy...
Cruisers are the motorcycle equivalent of the SUV. Heavy, inefficient, poor handling, slow, crummy brakes. And, like SUVs, they are insanely popular here. If only cruisers had cupholders and DVD players...they'd sell millions more/
Like our government, America gets the motorcycles it deserves; in this case, we vote with our dollars. However, it's widely held that the profit margins from cruiser sales fund the technology in sportbikes, sort of a "gummit subsidy." So, maybe that eases your pain.
One last comment, there's hardly a dearth of bikes to choose from these days. When I was a kid we'd walk 5 miles through the blinding snow to look at 3 Harley models, a couple Hondas, and maybe 1 each from the Euro manufacturers. The choices, quantities, prices, and availability these days are a dream come true. Stop your whining and ENJOY IT!!!