While this is true factually, the practical benefit of the US registration is the social benefit of being able to flout rules. For drug runners, they have an ea

While this is true factually, the practical benefit of the US registration is the social benefit of being able to flout rules. For drug runners, they have an easier time just radio'ing down passport numbers if they have an american flag on the tail. You may recall the hubbub about an american plan in Tehran a few years ago (https://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/18/world/middleeast/mystery-shrouds-american-plane-at-tehran-airport.html https://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/18/world/middleeast/mystery-...). That was this scheme at work.