I agree on this critical point. Dahon's reason for existence-as all businesses-is to make a profit on it's own version of folding/mini bikes. They do make a very hard-to-beat affordable bikes. I did enjoy both my Dahons while I owned them. When I was ready, I sold one and donated the other to a bike co-op charity that in turn gave it to someone who not only needed a bike badly, but will learn about the joys of folding bikes through that Dahon bike just as I did once. There is plenty of room and time to enjoy all of these bikes!

Not so much as the Bling Factor, but more like old fashioned quality and pride of craftsmanship. The original Schwinn factory was located in Chicago, employed people from the surrounding area, and served mostly a knowledgeable clientele in the US, Canada, and to a lesser extent, other first world countries. When globalization became in vogue, factories closed, production of goods went overseas to mostly the developing countries, and quality control went mostly out the window as Research & Design became separated or alienated from the production floor by thousands of miles or kilometers. I sadly saw that practice accelerate in the fashion industry since the 1980s. I now find that buying most anything that has been imported in countries that practice little or no quality control inspection before shipment is chancy at best. Bromptons are inspected carefully before shipment worldwide. You are paying for that practice that was once taken for granted just as paying extra for a garment that is carefully constructed locally-or at least in a developed country-and carefully inspected before presentation to the client as such.