"Collegiality and tact" is not a function of how extended the social default is -- it is a function of knowing that social default (or, more specifically, the expectations of the other party) and not being an asshole.

Whether the runway process gets off the ground depends on the circumstances. Some cultures have (or had) elaborate long and greeting rituals for high-status/caste/position people and skipping some part would have been a serious offense. As a more prosaic example, notice how the film credits take the pain to include the names of all second assistants to the third helper of the aide to the attendant who carried the purse of the co-star...