I think this is very much an individual needs thing not a place makes the needs thing. I commuted in San Francisco from the mission all the way to the top of potrero hill on a single-speed (not fixed gear...that would have been insane going home), but that was when I was younger and my knees could handle more pressure. Now I am using 7 gears for Copenhagen's a bridge is my steepest hill topography...

but, I also lived in Switzerland, and I saw plenty of 85 year olds buzzing their way around on poorly maintained old 3-speeds in mountains that make Seattle look downright flat in comparison. So, I would just call us spoiled for choice...though, there does seem to be a group of people who like/want this style...so it is interesting to hear that they languish on many B&M bike shops floors...

I will also note though, that the original bike-style that I was asking about is far far away from the Dutch style of bike (which I think is relatively easy to find in the US if you live in/near a big city even if there are some not so good facsimiles around that lack all that makes dutch style bikes great). What I think is the real question is why the bike manufacturers relegate some of these things (IGH, dynamos, etc.) to cruiser style bikes and never let them touch a touring-type geometry (in the US market...since that is exactly what you do find at least on the danish market), since they can make fantastic commuters...