Hi Jason;
Thanks for the two great links – lots of fun going through them.
Richard, like you I have managed to live in Europe (me, about 5 years, in The Netherlands)
While I did find, like you, that many things were inch-based, it did push me to do model engineering in metric. I now find it easier – *everything* I do is in metric, even if it is inch based plans and material.
Over here in Canada, although we are in the shadow of the USA Imperial Empire, metric is making inroads. I can easily purchase top of the line metric taps/dies locally, while BA, Whitworth, and the ME threads are mail order from Britain or from one of the few specialist suppliers in North America.
Nothing wrong with the ME, BA, etc threads, just that metric threads are more universal IMHO, and I've made them my standard in the workshop, for better or worse!
Another JohnS.