Actually with the one minute thing, it doesn't sound much but it is (+ it's true there really arent' enough people doing it concurrently). I think the difference is that in many other countries they're only checking your documents, whereas in Russia they're actively filling in forms (both paper and computer).
I've never been to the States and I'd be interested to know what it's like there nowadays with the new security measures post 911. I bet it's not fun, anyway.

With the doors, well VM, that's a bit sad really, you can do better..

And 'this is a border..'? Well that's why I compared it with experience in other countries...

Back to doors: yes, climate must be part of it, for example with the double doors in the podyezd .. but what's probably the real difference is that many people have double doors, sometimes reinforced with all sorts of things, at the actual entrance to their apartments. Anyone seen Bowling for Columbine, where he goes down the street in Canada and checks if all the doors are unlocked? Of course that wouldn't happen in London any more than it would in Moscow. Used to be like that in at least some parts of England, but no more sadly.

Secret Agent waxwing, licensed to spread propaganda about Russian doors