>I certainly have met Buddhism pratictioners in the West that were deep into the way of life and culture.

They are "big in the way of life and culture" the same way they'd be deep in punk rock or effective altruism.

Not as people living in a culture and tradition that is Buddhist - in an environment that nurtered and fosters its practice, and with all that comes from actual living tradition of a religion. It's more like pilates.

They then switch it off and go be whatever they are everyday.