Totally agree. I’ve never even been to the American continent and I feel OP’s question. I wrote a top-level comment further down.

Anyhow:

automatic high beams

This is a thing now?!

I shouldn’t be surprised. The stretch of motorways I use every day has tunnels, and I noticed that many if not most newer cars’ tail lights get brighter inside it. And I’m not imagining this. And it makes no sense when you think about it; if anything, it should be the other way ’round. It’s just more computer-made gimmickry designed to rope in customers.
(Yes, lights need to be on also during daytime in this EU country.)