Americans why are they like this?

Faster and easier than copying a typeface.

"Omg it's so hard. It might as well be in Chinese "

From what I understand cursive was supposed to help children practice fine motor control. But now that our main ways of communicating with one another involve using one's fine motor control let alone anyone who's touched a gaming system of any kind the cursive is kinda superfluous

We learned cursive in second grade, meaning that when I was eight years old I knew how to write in cursive. Now I can still read it, but have very little idea of how to write it.

As in, joined-up writing?

I don't actually knew what "cursive" meant, searched it and I was today years old when I learned that "cursive" is everybody's handwriting around here. Why should it be different? Nothing is quicker. Ask my doc.

There are many old documents written in hieroglyphs. Most people have come across hieroglyphs at one point or another. I don't think most people wold benefit from being taught hieroglyphs in their childhood.

I hate how way more school districts (at least in North America) insist on teaching kids cursive than the ones that teach kids how to touch type.

Which skill do you reckon they'll find more valuable in their adulthood?

I was taught how to do joined up writing I. Primary school (no idea if that's cursive though) as soon as I was told in secondary school that I didn't have to write joined up, I stopped. I've always struggled reading cursive, if I play a game and it has it for journals then I can't read it at all. Especially when it's older style cursive like from the 1800s or early 1900s.

How the hell can be people so illiterate??

It doesn't help anyone. It's an antiquated skill that's only being brought back to pander to the boomer class.