I think that it's the same everywhere as I think that a lot of parents aren't really interested in video games (but surely more adults are interested nowadays !!) and are just buying them for their children.
Even with this explanation about the pistol : the box art for Megaman 2 is still and stay HORRID, AWFUL and all the worst vocabulary you can put after !
I always thought the Mega Man 2 art was okay. Granted the pistol was a mistake and Dr. Light appears to be a villain, but at least they got the colors mostly right!