Interesting question; certainly cycle-touring seems to be much more popular in Europe than in the US. But an ironic result of globalization/low tariffs apparently helped US bike/component firms to get much bigger & Euro bike industry to lose ground. Euros make some great stuff for sure but most of the items I read about are higher-end things like Rohloff gear hubs, Magura hydraulic brakes etc that aren't much cheaper (if at all) in Europe.
How friendly/helpful are the local biker Euros? I've met a handful of Euros bike touring in the US & they all tended to be polite but not esp chatty. While most Euros know some English I suppose they have some inhibition about English conversation. Once went to a magnificent racing-oriented bike shop located at the Munich Olympic Velodrome. Shop owner was a gruff old German guy & apprentice no more friendly. Told the owner it was a beautiful shop & he just glared at me, heh.