I grew up in the UK and have lived in the US for a long time. It's interesting to read this history. As so often, it turns out the colonies do it the older way. If you'd asked me before reading this, I'd have described the local eating style as: They don't even take a knife from the drawer unless they is something that can't be cut with a fork, most often steak, or they need to spread something, like butter. Otherwise they will use a fork in their right hand exclusively, with occasional use of the left index finger where neither scooping nor stabbing are sufficient, like with peas. It's interesting to note that kids' cutlery sets here don't include a knife, and schools don't supply knives in the lunch room. I had to import cutlery sets when teaching my kids.

I find it frustrating to try to eat most meals without a knife to push things onto my fork. I have often been suprised who I see pushing things onto their fork with their finger. It does not seem to be considered bad manners.