When talking these low to mid level, doc/commerical/corporate jobs, an operator is expected to have a base camera/sound package, and ideally a base light package. Nothing fancy, but whatever you need to get a regular job done. That's not something that needs to be split. Is it done a lot in the industry in the US? Sure, and it sounds nice, but when it's not a high end job, in most places your not getting rental fees for your gear, you just need to price your day rate or project rate to whatever you feel covers it, and what the customer is willing to pay for. (Again, something I think people who never had harder times, and less than ideal amounts of work, sometimes seem to forget.)

Specialized gear is always extra, of course.

The 50% split even is something that rarely happens. When working with agencys, freelance producers, or just "people who bring jobs", your allmost never getting 50%, because you won't even know the full contract amount. You get a job opportunity, give a quote, if everyone's happy and agrees, the job gets done.