US statistic: https://www.statista.com/statistics/676472/number-of-smart-m...
In 2005 in Finland about 7% of households had smart meters, with 80%+ coverage mandated by 2013 and actual coverage of 99.6% of under-63A meters in 2016 (Finnish sources: https://www.vttresearch.com/sites/default/files/julkaisut/mu... https://tem.fi/documents/1410877/3481825/AMR+2.0+loppuraport...).
Everything over that is a commercial building and they get billed with different rules and measurements due to the equipment they tend to have. Something about three phase engines and power phases in commercial lighting. I zoned out during those meetings :D
As for your guess: That's just a cultural thing I suppose. I've never seen outdoor meters around here.