> 5. The wages are lower, so the best candidates likely don't get involved in startups here.
Ironically, this can be in part attributed to the cost of having a strong social safety net, at least in my opinion. I'd love to be persuaded otherwise.
Doubtful. There are plenty of high wage occupations in Europe, but computer programming is not one of them. Just like the market for doctors in the US is insane compared to elsewhere in the world.