It may not be only that, but it sure as hell plays an important role. I am EU-based developer, the majority of my customers are in EU, and I pay a US company 8

It may not be only that, but it sure as hell plays an important role. I am EU-based developer, the majority of my customers are in EU, and I pay a US company 8.9% of revenue to avoid the crippling VATMOSS bureaucracy - because it’s cheaper that way. Not avoiding VAT, mind you, I still collect the enormous 20+% tax on sales, just avoiding the associated hassle. And that’s just one example.