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Why not? If you criticise an Americanism/Briticism you could just as well criticise the whole language. Which is beyond the scope of this forum, I think.

Come come. I'd say "May I" as well, but only because I grew at in a half-British family. I notice that the only people who think 'may I' is snotty or dorky are Americans. Therefore:
In British: May...

"May I" is quite accepted British English. Maybe it sounds dorky in American, but it's just polite in English.

"May I have some gum" can also be answered with "Yes, but not from me/ some of mine". By an irritating snotty smarty-pants. You can't ask anything that couldn't be interpreted in another way than...