I think you hit it right in the head. It depends a lot of the kind of person you are. However I think the American system used correcly is better. It allows for the flexibility on most schools to take electives that will allow you to create your own track. The problems is that most people do not take full advantage of it and take High School as a joke. High School can be the beginning of a great career if you take full advantage of what is offered.

Higher education is also flexible, but its all up to the individual to take full advantage of that flexibility.

Same in France as in Germany unfortunately. Once you're on certain tracks, there's no way you can change your mind and do something else. Besides, the system is twisted and favours scientific subjects so much that even if you're fantastic at humanities, languages etc., if you're not good at maths the doors of the best institutions (even those that don't teach sciences) will always be closed to you. I much prefer the American and British systems.