gwd

Yes. Its not the "shop" its the attitude of the individual mechanics. Sometimes I'll pay them to do something I know how to do because they're faster and I'm in a hurry and had to go to the shop to buy the parts anyway. On my euro bike a few years after I bought it I kept getting broken spokes. One time I had the mechanic replace a spoke, he just put it on the rack and did it. Another time from a different mechanic at the same shop I got the "Your bike looks different its $5.00 more." so I took it home and did it myself. If more people ride these different looking bikes fewer mechanics will be confounded by the enclosed chain and release latch.

Roody

It's just personal preference. I prefer the more stripped down type of bike. I value some nimbleness in a bike--either a mountain bike or a road bike. I also think the euro bikes don't look as cool. But I think it is cool to see ladies in dresses riding, and business guys with their neckties streaming behind them.

Torrilin

Batavus runs $400 and up here in Madison. $400 will get you some kind of rack equipped 3 speed with good gearing for use within Madison. Biria seems to run about the same, tho they're a special order item. Breezer is a standard item. The Schwinn, Electra, Bianchi, Masi and Dahon internal gear models are all pretty easy to get here. Even the fanciest models probably aren't more than $1500 right now. Just try finding a new car for that much

The average Madison commuter is on vintage steel or a cheap hybrid. The average Madison commuter isn't car free tho, so they don't ride in winter. They also don't ride much at night or do lots of cargo. The ones who *do* seem to ride more European style bikes with as many features built in as possible.

You could make the same argument about trailers, but I don't think anyone could call them fashionable with a straight face .

Novakane 

Haven't seen any of these, but I rebuilt my black MTB to be reminiscent of a euro bike all black and chrome with fenders. Anything that gets people riding is cool by me. Even the carbon road bikes, even though I haven't much use for one.