Trid, I always had a feeling you went back into the realms of antiquity. 😊

Your sweeping comment about Americans isn't accurate. I think you'll find we're not of one mind on matters of heritage and tradition. We are, perhaps, generally less inclined than Europeans to cling to tradition for the sake of tradition, but that doesn't seem to me a bad thing.

Personally, I like the traditions surrounding papal successions, including the funeral customs for the deceased pope and the customs and rituals involved in electing the new one. 

I might modify how cardinal-electors are selected, but I wouldn't do away with the college itself or the secret conclave, which I believe are among the most distinctive and cherished traditions of the Catholic Church.