I totally agree with you about your vision of vintage in EU.
US is definetly the place to go if we, Europeans, want to have a vintage blast. The florishing time of European Vintage is a thing of the past, and I don't know how it could be undone.
I believe the local scene is the first step to go for a "revival". I live on a remote french (volcanic and tropical) island in the middle of Indian ocean. When I came back there, 4 years ago, there had not been vintage events for years!! Still some beacon remained alight and we fought to create a thus small but devoted comunity. Now some of us try to travel to a "big" event every year.
Some friends told me that Vintage around Paris had been almost "dead" for months (in terms of tournaments). I know that a group still shuffle old staples in the south but not much in France, as far as I know !(
I am really glad to see that people like you around EU try to keep it alive. I somehow know how much work it takes ..
By the way, I will sure consider going to Tuscany (and NW ) one day, and I will spread the word to my wizard friends !)
Cheers