When I first became an Aveil, I went to shul and put on a Tallis to be Shaliach Tzibbur at Mincha. One of the people in charge insisted that I take the Tallis off. "זה רק האמריקאים" he explained to me. *Real* Israeli Jews don't wear Talleisim when they are Chazan. Just an American mishegoss. I didn't like it but I avoid controversy.
I have since stopped davening in that shul [for other, unrelated reasons].
In the shul where I now daven thrice daily, when the Gabbai saw me putting on a Tallis for Mincha, he jumped כנשוך נחש and urgently stopped me as if I was eating a cheeseburger on יום כיפור שחל להיות בתשעה באב. So no Tallis there either.
Anyway - the מגן אברהם [not an American] writes in 'סימן י"ח ב:
ולי נראה דכל עובר לפני התיבה צריך להתעטף, כדאמרינן: מלמד שנתעטף הקב"ה כשליח ציבור.
And so paskens the 'שלחן ערוך הרב סימן י"ח ד.
It doesn't bother me that people aren't makpid to wear a Tallis. What does trouble me is that there should be a הקפדה NOT to wear a Tallis. Like - a Jew wants to wear a Tallis, let him.
In general, if something gives someone else נחת רוח - why stop him [unless it is אסור or dangerous]??
