

Yes we are
Yes and no. You teach how to solve equations, but not the fundamentals (and if you do then kudos to you, as it’s not a trivial accomplishment). Fundamentals, most of the time, are taught in universities. It’s so much easier that way, but doesn’t mean it’s right. People call it math, which is fair enough, but it’s not really math in a sense that you don’t understand the underlying principles.
Yes there is!
Nope.
There’s only commutation, association, distribution, and identity. It doesn’t matter in which order you apply any of those properties, the result will stay correct.
2×2×(2-1)/2 = 2×(4-2)/2 = 1×(4-2) = 4-2 = 2
As you can see, I didn’t follow any particular order and still got the correct result. Because no basic principle was broken.
Or I could also go
2×2×(2-1)/2 = 4×(2-1)/2 = 4×(1-0.5) = 4×0.5 = 2
Same result. Completely different order, yet still correct.
My response to the rest goes back to the aforementioned.
Sure. They are, however, not the focus. At least that’s not how I’ve been taught in school. You’re not teaching kids how to prove the quadratic formula, do you? No, you teach them how to use it instead. The goal here is different.
Again, with the order of operations. It’s not a thing. I’ve given you two examples that don’t follow any.
That’s kinda random, but sure?
They all derive from each other. Even those fundamental properties are. For example, commutation is used to prove identity.
2+2-2 = 4-2 = 2+0 = 0
2 operators, no order followed.
If we take your example
2+3×4 then it’s not an order of operation that plays the role here. You have no property that would allow for (2+3)×4 to be equal 2+3×4
Look, 2+3×4 = 1+3×(2+2)+1 = 1+(6+6)+1 = 7+7 = 14
Is that not correct?
It literally has subtraction and distribution. I thought you taught math, no?
2-2 is 2 being, hear me out, subtracted from 2
Same with 2×(2-2), I can distribute the value so it becomes 4-4
No addition? Who cares, subtraction literally works the same, but in opposite direction. Same properties apply. Would you feel better if I wrote (2-2) as (1+1-2)? I think not.
Also, can you explain how is that cherry-picking? You only need one equation that is solvable out of order to prove order of operation not existing. One is conclusive enough. If I give you two or more, it doesn’t add anything meaningful.