Do you have any data that shows Americans are buying the Crosstrek because they "love to feel tall" and not because of all the differentiating factors between it and the Impreza?
The Crosstrek comes stock with a 6-speed manual instead of the Impreza's 5-speed (though 90% of them are sold with the execrable CVT instead); the Crosstrek only comes as a hatchback while the base Impreza is a sedan; the Crosstrek has intermittently been available with a hybrid system.
Though I think the idea that the more expensive model is pushed by dealers makes sense too.