Originally Posted by Rick@OCRR

I remember feeling the same way antsjack!

Fortunately for me, before I bought my first folding bike I visited a friend who is very fond of folding bikes, and had examples from eight different manufacturers for me to try riding, plus folding and unfolding. It took most of an afternoon and well into the evening before we were finished, and while I can't remember them all, the short list was: Birdy, Bike Friday, DaHon, Brompton and Pacific (feel like I'm forgetting an important one, but you get the idea).

The one I liked the best, ride wise, was the Birdy. The one I liked best fold/un-fold wise was the Brompton (very clever fold!). All things sorted though, and price a consideration, I finally settled on the DaHon Curve 8. It has 16" wheels, so folds almost as tight/small as the Brompton (also called Brommies on this and similar forums) but rides better (faster, more solid, less flex) than all but the Birdy and cost me considerably less than the Birdy or Brompton would have.

I ride the Metro to and from work, so the small fold was essential to me, might not be to you. I have not ridden a Tern (and my friend the folderista doesn't even own one yet), but I was very impressed with what I saw at the Interbike Show, and on the Folder Frolic ride that was associated with the show.

So, if I may be permitted an automotive analogy, the Brompton reminded me of my MG: very British, not very fast, a bit fiddley . . . but just radiating coolativity. If it's important to you to be one of the "cool kids" (or their adult equivalent) then the Brompton would win, without even an arguement. On the the other hand, the DaHon felt more like my Miata (which replaced the MG in my automotive life), i.e. very precision, much faster with less fuss, more up to date engineering wise . . . but really rather boring over on the fashion side.

Good luck on your quest, but as others (above) have suggested, test ride many, fold and un-fold, define your needs, then making the decision will not be so daunting.
So, is the Brompton worth all those British pounds stirling? Not to me, but it may be to you!

Rick / OCRR