Ripped off? If you want to pay less tax the government has to spend less. Is this a vote winner? David Cameron seems less than convinced.
The American system got me the first time I went there: I was mystified at street sellers in Chicago selling ice creams for 93c (of course = $1 with tax). The reason that US prices are ex tax, AIUI, is that not only does each state have its own tax rate, but each local city council can levy an additional amount - thus there are thousands of sales tax areas across the USA. It would impossible to force retailers to advertise inclusive prices since these will differ within relatively small areas, let alone those covered by regional and national media.
Personally I prefer the way we do it. Go to Australia and look at new car prices and you'll be envious. Then look at all the on-the-road additions, which of course we used to have. Better WYSIWP .