I went for simplicity a few times before i realize it was a dream
Bought a few second hand 50$ bikes like this
After a week i realized simplicity left when i bought them
To sum up:
Brakes that doesn't brake when it rains
Brakes that get stuck
Brake cable that fail
Brake pads that i have to change often
Pedals that make a squiky noise
Chain that jumps all the time
Gears that don't switch
Wheels that rust during (canadian) winter
All the dust, mud that ends up on my back
No place to put a ulock or carry anything
Frame slightly too small or too big that don't fit properly
and the last but not least
a flat every week literally (this is the worst on the spirit since you always wonder if you won't get a flat today)
And this is nothing compared to my walmart bicycle that disintegrated by itself in a week (you ride and suddenly one part falls down then another...)
I remember having a shifter in my hand (not on the bike) while riding.
Good old days
Problems that you have to take care it's suddenly not so simple.
All those hassle are now thing of the past with my current bike but i had to increase complexity to get simplicity
. [I had to build something to prevent the chain from jumping, to add extra protection inside the tires etc... which increase complexity]
The only thing i have to do now is grease or change my chain once a year, i had to adjust the shifters once in the last 4 years, no flat for the last what 3 years and counting (since i took care of the tire problem)
Whatever your choice you have to take care of those hassle. Cheaper is not always the best option.