I came across related articles on the history of tableware that did explain the differences in American vs English and European fork usage as being due to table-knives with rounded tips coming later to the US. Don’t know enough about dining history to judge whether this is true.

Also confirmed that yes, asparagus was indeed considered a finger food in the past; sufficiently far back in the past that all the modern etiquette articles consist of wrestling with the question: “If it’s no longer commonly known you’re supposed to eat them with your fingers, is it ok to do so or are you just trolling the other diners?”