Erm, there were plenty of metrics they did worse by. We already had that discussion.

As for spending a million bucks, well you know well that you are playing around with this.

It works for lots of people, not just the wealthy... as reflected in some of the metrics I brought up in our last discussion regarding life expectancy in the face of serious illness.

The relative size of the US is only one aspect, but yes it is an important one as it is the target market (due to profitability). But there are so many other factors, including relative place in global economy and such forth. Its also important to understand where the other systems will be in 10 and 20 years, which is another aspect that bears looking at.

For who could be free when every other man's humour might domineer over him? - John Locke (2nd Treatise, sect 57)