Hello Adlerschloss, you write about political purposes and abuses of maps, so tell me why is Europe separated from Asia even they are the same continent in actually? I think the reason is a more cultural case or let's say a result of self centered character of European culture. 
As far as I have read in this MAP discussion, I cannot see a regualr solution, this discussion is more like dicussing "chicken comes from the egg or egg comes from chicken", this is nonsense, there wont be a solution for this map thing, because the discussion on its basics is very irrevelant to the main topic, talking on a map is a very superficial way of dicussing issues ( a medivial inquisitors' style of discussing). I will give you extreme examples to you now; "Ottoman was a European country when it was at its most expanded territorial state" is that right or wrong? Or How can we consider Danmark European eventhough GREENLAND is that far from Europe (Greenland is the largest territorial area in Europe, larger than Danmark itself, so percentage that you guys have been using does not make sense anymore). That's what the discussion indicates; however this is not the fact. The problem here is cultural and this problem does not solve anything please try to focus on solutions not the vicious circle if you want solution ofcourse. (  )