Answered for those with proper regards.
Bowing down, falling of respect (toward what's proper to), is nowhere common. Noble culture and common, are of cause not the same.
The retold story seems to be merely a tale from outsiders, and there are instances where the Sublime Buddha even urged to bow down. To get formal integrated into the heritage, bowing down counts as a prerequisite.
Within the Buddhaparisa (like with every community), paying regards isn't a generosity but a matter of virtue (Sila). Of course, for one not yet into, there are no must's at all and one is free to either give into, or not.
And other then western, modern believes, things start to be trained from gross to fine, not otherwise. Before developing mind, speech, before speech, body is required to be developed.
If one bows down to one, that's a very serious account, like if one adopts a child, gives one refuge, when accepted. If one tries to think in skillful ways, and right objectivity, one can easy see the blessing of right view, right regards, and knows how much such goes against one's defilements.
Just think how often and many people bow down for most low, say fleshy coupling...
How clear and consequent the matter actually is, and how one cut himself actually of when in not so good thinkings groups (like modern, western ones) might be shown well on the Sublime Buddhas advices for his monks: Groups to avoid, to approach
Much success in finding ways to overcome doubts!
