I apologize if this has been said (I only scrolled through the thread), but big wheel folding bikes aren't a new concept. Montague has been making them for decades, and currently offers a spectrum of models including some with high performance features. More recently other players in the field are offering better features and an assortment of wheel sizes.

The basic limiter in folding bikes is the wheel diameter, so those who don't need minimum folded size have a number of options, while those who need the smallest possible folded size, are limited to smaller wheels.