Mathematics is a way of thinking that abstracts and describes the real world. It may be difficult for ordinary people to understand the way of thinking that abstracts and describes the real world. But in general, it is obviously useful to know how to think, for example, because how to calculate can always be realized by machines. Generally speaking, the more relaxed education in the west has laid the foundation for in-depth education.
Maybe you also found that advanced mathematics and high school mathematics are two different things. I think the United States attaches different importance to mathematics than China. In China, the whole society and every family may think it is very important to learn math well, but they are also more obsessed with the gains and losses of their grades. In the United States, although you won't be criticized for not doing well, you need to have enough interest and strength to learn math well and get enough attention, and the "return" of your efforts is also considerable.
This difference is of course related to many factors. We should not be eager to distinguish between good and bad, but should study each other's strengths, learn from the highlights of the United States in cultivating mathematical talents, and improve our own methods. After all, the result of the Olympic Mathematical Contest is not the real goal. This is what we need most to create a better environment for mathematics education in China. We can't give them the education they need, but we can give them a lot of knowledge that they can't digest.