Incidentally I just double checked, and I am indeed Mifid retail with IB, but I have trading permissions for US futures anyway. GAT
Futures are fine, most derivatives are but not ETFs or anything leveraged, which is usually an etf, like vxx and various volatility products. Vix is available, futures and options are tradable too. European ETFs have higher commissions, I use them long term. There are ways around, but still annoying to be limited. I guess mifid has other valid security reasons to exist and not just to limit retail traders. I was selfishly hoping brexit would deregulate it all.
US futures are fine. Try buying SPY. You can play with SPY options, but can't trade SPY ETF as EU retail.
Dunno if it's a common practice, but here we have in between of a newbie and professional (if one manage portfolio above of €500k). ,,A well informed investor" (If one manage portfolio above of €130k) The only benefit, you can participate in IPO together with big players prio the public does. Not that much to participate in tho, cheese companies and some random energy players & etc. Sorry for going off topic.