Interesting. In my humble opinion, the chief reason for not wearing the symbol of a degree you haven't taken is mostly to keep harmony amongst the brethren. (You don't want someone to accuse you of "stolen valor"!) But, from what you've said it sounds like nobody in the UK takes the 14th degree and only has it conferred upon them in name only. So there's really nobody to offend, and technically you "have" the degree under that system... as odd as I might find it! Hah.