>>719774164
Because then they would have to be held to an actual professional standard. And we can't have that in the US. Similar to UK VAs, a lot of JP ones sing or do audio dramas. It really shows.

>mostly lack emotion, and all use the same type of voice
I'm so sick of them trying to do an "anime" voice rather than just acting normally. They've all just been mimicking the old funimation VAs years now. As for emotion, the easiest way to tell the difference between US and UK/JP are the yells. Far too often you can feel that they don't believe in what they're yelling about. That there's a barrier they won't cross when it comes to screaming over a cartoon. They sound so forced. A golden standard for yells to me would be the DMC trio of Reuban, Southworth, and Yong Bosch. Their screams are excellent. On some level I'd have to attribute that sincerity to their time working as Power Rangers. Which goes back to your point about Theater making such a huge difference.
https://youtu.be/CSBRP5S7rsI?si=d7M2a2ouAlM-CKhG
https://youtu.be/S3vxTVmso7c?si=i4QcyDfA-QmwtjcT
https://youtu.be/hS9mXAkHPQs?si=dQgNRT-fsmIuFgzm

US voice directors are probably also to blame. They can't be bothered and ask for the same type of voice all the time. To the point that Matt Mercer got sick of being made to fill in as a Troy Baker substitute.