Interesting point. Concerning traffic laws: in part this is reality in Germany and I guess other European countries. Depending on region/city etc... , going against the traffic in a one-way street is allowed for bikes. And concerning the crossroads... well I just do exactly that. Coming from a country where traffic is much more aggressive (and more complexly regulated) than in the U.S., the "everybody has to stop at stop signs and crossroads"-thing is just an invitation, and people in cars even stay friendly when I take their "right of way"... try that in Germany and you die.
On the other hand biking on larger roads is tricky, primarily because of car driver's a lack of attention...