Oil viscosity - why the 20W-50 BS?

I been running 20w--50 not street legal oil in my 340 since day one, works just fine and its been driven hard at some points--wide open blasts in top gear in mid 90 degree temps//those young punks and their hot japan motorcycles, lol

Thicker oil also clings better--great if you don't drive the car everyday

Not street legal oil? what the hell do they do? pull your dipstick and put the oil on litmus paper? I've never heard of a kind of motor oil you weren't allowed to run on the street. what's it got in it? Phosgene?