We have chip and pin too but only on debit cards. My Amex doesn't require a signature for anything under 50 dollars and can be very fast depending on the store. I think a lot of the blame is on legacy software. Some places have the chip readers but make you swipe first only for it to say insert card.
The chip and pin speeds have gotten better but still a ways off.
Never swipe before entering your PIN. If you do that, they can clone a card for use in ATMs, and withdraw your money as untraceable cash.
Connecting via the chip does not reveal enough information to reconstruct a magnetic strip for an ATM to accept, particularly if the machine is a total fake. But if you swipe the magnetic stripe, you can easily clone it exactly.
Don't the ATMs use the chip? All the ATMs I've seen here in Brazil either use the chip exclusively, or use the magstripe to identify the account but use the chip to confirm everything (not only withdrawals, but also simpler things like looking at the account balance).
The chip and pin speeds have gotten better but still a ways off.