I am always amazed by the stark difference in seat belt sign / FA seating / "Safety" issues between US airlines and most (all?) others.

If this is about safety, why don't FAs have to be seated when the seat belt sign is on? Are FAs magically more immune to turbulence than passengers?

If FAs can be up and actively serving meals, it is safe for me to walk to the lav. Me thinks this is much more about "efficiency" - keep passengers out of the way during service - than it is about safety.