UzzyLady: I like the idea of a speed rating instead.

You can not have a unique speed rating system because of players and games. Because players you correctly said ... i am from Europe and for playing "live" with e.g. an US-American there is only small time.
Secondly: In some games yoz can play faster, but in some games there is fast playing not so good. E.g. in chess. You are checking the position out, building it up at a real wooden board, thinking, going to bed, looking at position, making move then ... and so on.
Maybe in backgammon or other games you can play faster.