You're not quite wrong nor quite right.... I've lived in the USA all my life, in perhaps 20 or so different houses or apartments over the years, in half a dozen

You're not quite wrong nor quite right.... I've lived in the USA all my life, in perhaps 20 or so different houses or apartments over the years, in half a dozen states through both the northeast and midsouth and in my experience.... both ways are common in the USA, unfortunately. I'm not sure why, but I agree kitchen vent fans that don't actually vent outside are terrible