Low-income countries might get drone deliveries before the U.S.

Their major pain points are infrastructure, public health, education, functioning government, and basic economy, all of which were addressed long ago by advanced countries.

So I think the article is misguided in that sense, and half your point is well taken.

More apt question would have been, which developed country was able to adopt novel technology quickly because of its high risk tolerance, or lax safety regulations?

But I'm not sure if such country exists.