Well golly gee, I think perhaps my intended message was not conveyed properly. I do not feel that Europeans are innately "superior," nor am I implying that eating in the American fashion makes one inferior, less "well-bred" or cultured. I apologize if that was the interpretation, but that was not my intended message. Obviously my wording was wrong.

If you want to do serious business on a high level with people in ANY country you will want to make the best impression possible. I agree that anyone who is polite and does keep to the standard rules of table will do well. However, people are judged on many levels, and when you feel you are on show and want to make the best impression, if you do demonstrate that you are skilled in formal table manners of the your host country it will go a long way in demonstrating that you are adaptive, knowledgable about their culture, and are keen to MAKE this impression. If you are asking someone to trust you, to build a relationship with you, then demonstrating an ability to fit in with THEIR expectations is important.

Personally, I like to sit on my sofa and eat peaches out of the tin, with one fork in my right hand. I'm not a diva, it's just my opinion that one can make a good impression in little ways. We can pretend that these things don't matter and whatever you want to do is "cool," but when you find that the person who you must impress values these things and you are not willing and / or able to perform to their expectations, you just might lose out.

But hey ho, do whatever you want. It's just my opinion.