If this 'cultural' psyche, and its inherent intransigence, is the prime underlying reason behind all this, then it surely makes no commercial sense.

Is it then to be assumed that markets for their products are so strong in their home countries that, in their eyes, the rest of the world can go hang? I really can't see that myself. If there wasn't any profit in the global marketplace they wouldn't be there in the first place. Why would they retard their own progress?

Things that make you go hmmmmm, indeed.