@NYC 428 posted:HO doesn't have a "standard", bub. It's a scale.
I try to like all model trains.....but some people have an.....attitude.
There's just as much junk in HO as there is in practically every scale.
Your quite correct HO is a scale, however, it has quite a number of standards, you may to check out below.
And if anyone has an attitude it's you BUB!
NMRA Standards and Recommended Practices
The NMRA standards have specifications for O scale too. They even have deep flange specs. ...And specs for O27.