The European way works well in Europe. In California there's a conflict between the concept of "passing lane" and actual practice. People tend to "get it and forget it". Stay in a lane in cruise control. Maddening as it can be, it is standard practice.
There's a setting to make NOA automatically leave the passing lane, and it does it just fine. But where all lanes are considered equal, the result is terrible. I use "no-confirmation lane changes" with "mad max". Works great. BUT if you add the "leave passing lane" option, the car will change lanes to find the fastest lane, including the leftmost "passing" one, then relinquish it "on principle" and start over hunting. It's called weaving. Pass the dramamine. Better to drop that setting and make the choice on your own with the turn signals and the "speed wheel".
As to dropping radar, I do understand the difficulties of integrating two sensor dimensions. But it was actually working pretty well, and making such a drastic change so far into development struck me as imposed from above and unwise. We'll be dealing with side effects for a good while. Like the dance of the high beams at night, and (apparently) reduced ability at high speed. I dunno.
Overall, I believe that NOA has gotten more human, more assertive and smoother of late. But the OP's objection is perfectly valid. Let's hope the 80mph limit can safely be removed soon.