As an American, I think it’s one of those dumb things that before technology made stuff easier it made sense. But technology advanced and companies didn’t because the impetuous would be on them and “can’t have that”. Kind of like how checks are still used much more in the States compared to Europe where they’re for all intents and purposes obsolete, because the US didn’t adopt sensible free bank transfers in the same way Europe did.

It’s not like we don’t have “deals” to make goods look cheaper than they are here either. You can still trick consumers while posting the true price.