Another great one!
As far as the philosophy of design you refer to, it's really nothing new. Italy specifically and other Euro design centers have always been at the head of the pack when it comes to materials, finishes and style. It's no wonder that most of the best art museums are there. European culture in general embraces it while the US embraces Walmart, Home Depot and Target. It's different priorities and culture, nothing more.
It's also not really fair to compare our beloved Big 3 to Ferraris, Lambos and Bentley. You get what you pay for. I've seen concept sketches for domestics that would blow away concepts I've seen for the highest end exotics. The problem is the execution and cost cutting that happens to make a Charger, an Impala or Mustang affordable to the masses and profitable for manufacturers.
I would agree that during the 60's SOME musclecar designers had an eye on Europe but the US is a totally different market, as it should be. American styling, for the most part, fell off a cliff after the early 70s due to so many political and economical reasons among other things. Until very recently, styling was secondary at best and interiors were a joke. Economy and reliability were at the top of the list and that's where Toyota and Honda filled a huge void. They flat out made longer lasting, gas sipping cars.
I also agree that the G-machine movement was a long time coming for so many reasons you've already mentioned. Good and great design is accessible to more people, more people are aware and that's a good thing. Fake vents and intakes look like clutter since they're non-functional. Gigantic chrome bumpers look ridiculously heavy. And tall side wall tires and jacked up suspension look goofy and awkward for driving. However, much of the sheetmetal styling, the functional hood scoops, recessed grill assemblies and short greenhouses matched with raw pavement folding power is what gets people excited. There are very few cars that deliver an "experience" now. Whenever the internal combustion engine becomes extinct, you can be sure that people will be retrofitting musclecars with the most current propulsion systems available. They've never been short on a "driving experience".
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