Quote Originally Posted by zedeeyen View Post
Don't forget that English in Russia is a widespread academic subject which most learners begin in school, so beginner English texts in Russia are introductory-level academic works. In contrast, academic Russian is virtually unheard-of in anglo countries and the overwhelming majority of Russian-learners are teaching themselves in their own time, and so beginner Russian texts are more like hobby or self-help books than academic textbooks.

There is a world of difference between learning a language as an academic subject and learning a language to "get by" conversationally. Different motivations, different market, different approach.
Russian with English sounds is practically incomprehensible, and you have to understand native speakers as well. Just think of a Russian saying vafe instead of wave, debt instead of dad, вёрт instead of word, will he be always understood?
These books do not help, they only make harm. you have seen yourself: Боб Уайтман's table helped a learner more than many textbooks, and Bob managed to write it even not being a professional Russian as a second language teacher, as far as I understand.
It is for a learner to decide what is important for him and what is not, textbooks must say correct things. Why should be the pronunciation fully negected and the grammar be studied if Russian is a living language?
And it is still difficult to pronounce Russian words in this way. For example there is no "ly" in English, so it is not easy to pronounce such a combination of sounds especially after consonants. What for should they make effort to get wrong pronunciation if they can make effort to get the correct one? Russian soft L is very close (close enough for practical purposes) to the French or the German L. Does anyone hear the German or French L as ly?