My only criticism of the Schwinn bikes sold at the Marts is that they don't come in the frame size that's ideal for me. Otherwise, I might have one. They look decent, and I know what to do to keep one maintained and on the road. Having the support of an LBS can be a good thing, but if you can't spend the money for it, there's no sense in going without a bike. I do worry about people who don't know anything about bikes who buy a Mart bike. They have a bad experience and it makes them suspicious of bicycles in general.
We have two authorized Schwinn dealers around here. One only had a couple of their comfort bikes on his sales floor, and the other one didn't have a single Schwinn out on display.