John E prolly doesn't have the legs to push a singlespeed up hill. well, maybe once dismounted.
what's wrong with singlespeed? they're just bicycles, for crying out loud. they're machines, and as long as you treat them with respect and care that any machine requires, even a classic piece of lugged steel, why does it matter how they're configured? It's not like it's dismembering a baby we're talking about. Nobody here is defending the chopping of an Eddy Merckx or a 1960s Bianchi, BTW. and single speed is more classic than multigeared anyway...
If you don't like it, don't complain, just exercise your right not to ride one. but once you do, you'll fall in love with it too.