I've used an internal gear Specialized City 6.1 Globe (heavier bike, fenders, dyno hub, rear rack). I had to replace my original wheel (Nexus 8 hub, Alex Rim) after 3K miles due to shifting problems, spokes going bad and rim wear/problems and the nail in the coffin was an S-hook on a bag that wrapped itself into the rear gear. I replaced it with an entirely new wheel at over $350. (Alfine-8 hub, Sun Rim). Much higher quality rear wheel. Pretty much problem free until I felt rolling resistance and decided to have it serviced after 8k miles. Bad idea. In hind sight, I would really research who would be opening up an internal gear hub. The shop ruined the wheel, but admitting something went wrong, they purchased a new wheel for me, keeping my old one to perhaps fix or use for R&D or parts. I admit that was very generous of them. My new rear wheel had some rolling resistance at first, I think due to the shop mounting it wrong.... after a few hundred miles it seems to have freed up (I should have just requested they don't touch the new one). Things seem back in order now... 11,750 miles. So.... pay attention to quality of components and if a shop working on the bike really does or does not understand internal gears. I've discovered some bike shops (LA Area) really don't even know a difference between Nexus and Alfine, let alone the other brands of internal gear hubs. Going internal gear may cost you $ and require learning/understanding more about your rear wheel than some bike mechanics. (Things like this happen in the car world too!)

I love having an IG-8 hub for LA traffic. Ideal for shifting much like a manual transmission car as you accelerate from a stop. Clean looks, easy to change a tire (but only if you practice removing that shifter ring), shifting at a stop, quite operation... things like that. Cost of wheel replacement is going to be an issue, sooner or later. It's a trade off.