1. "They are low maintenance, weather-resistant, fairly efficient (although less so that a good derailleur set-up), and (with a chainguard) keep your pants clean. They make too much sense to ever be a success in the marketplace"
This is exactly what I have been saying for all the years I have been bike commuting. I have put my Sturmey Archer 3 speed hub through hell and it works just like new each time I use it. I work in New York City and see people using cheap shopper bikes and NEVER see them shift the gears even if they are going uphill. Yet these cheap Roadmasters or Magna bikes seem to have 21 or more gears that are not used because the derailleur is not ****ional after 6 months of use.
Someone posted the Sram 7 speed is better than the Nexus 7 speed hub. I read in another thread about someone who took both units apart and found out the Nexus uses small paws that can get easily damaged. This was only an opinion. I haven't had any problems with the Nexus 7 speed hub.