Lovely, entirely. I did not know philosophers in the US use models and predictions, either. Seems odd, I agree.

And I agree with your argument on philosophy not being a science, not as the physical sciences are science at least. I will argue that philosophy is, indeed, a science of observation and of question, on which the physical sciences have their foundation (thus the interchanging aspects of the fields as you've eloquently elaborated in your article). Perhaps, yes, a cultural or regional influence in our understanding of what philosophy is--which is inevitable considering the differences in education systems and modules.

For instance, philosophy here in South Africa is grouped with and regarded a social science (as mentioned during our discussion prior). I do see philosophy as such a science as anthropology and sociology. The basis of all being observation, questioning, and understanding. While the physical sciences employ these traits as well, the social sciences rarely use models in hopes of predicting outcomes. The underlying matter of philosophy, or rather its importance and application, focus on the social, on the Self and Other, and the various aspects threaded between other fields of study on the social.