Thanks for the information about Scotland, and for mentioning you occasionally use the WH yourself. Believe it or not, I’m really happy to know that. Since the H in WH corresponds to a Q in Latin, I believe it is particularly interesting for fans of Grimm’s Law. As far as the US, I believe the challenge lies in the fact that Hollywood and New York media are so dominant and so “cool.” As an aside, your description of being “taught this sound by elderly schoolmistresses” matches what I’ve heard from people who grew up in NYC half a century ago.