When I started learning Japanese, I started saying "no problem" a lot more instead of "thank you", since it seems that's one of the first English phrases they learn. I really have almost eliminated "you're welcome", I feel like "you're welcome" indicates that I went out of my way to do a service for you, where "no problem" implies that it was no effort at all.
I also feel like I don't say please either. "Would you mind if..." or "Is it alright if I asked..." or similar words replace "please" in my sentences. I think I rationalize it similarly. I feel like I'm asking if someone is okay with doing something, instead of just flat asking them to do it. I don't know. I'm 25, I don't feel like I'm out of the norm. Also, I live in the middle of the midwest, if there are people who think Chicago has nice people, Des Moines must be Candycane Lane.