Thanks a bunch Wavshrdr for the long and informative response. You have given me some great food for thought.
And I like the looks of your swift. I do like to be practical, and it seems that I might get more satisfaction from the sensibleness of the Swift - especially if I put some of the extra $ I would need to spend on the Brompton into getting a nice set-up on theSwift. Maybe the Brompton is not as cool as I thought (I do get irritated sometimes about companies that do the thing with proprietary parts.) It is starting to seem like a brilliant idea with somewhat poor execution, from all of the niggling complaints that people have. The glaring difference is the tight little package that the Brompton makes, though, which I still think is very cool.
I guess some test rides might be in order. If the actual ride on the Brompton is enjoyable to me it will remain a frontrunner.
Thanks again.