There ya go, 27 gears are better for hilly terrain than just 1 gear... It's a "helper system" it helps you do the trip.
Same with E-Assist it "helps" the people (that need more help) who use it to make the trip rather than not even start...
Now when does "helping" turn into "doing", and the person just rides a motorized bicycle? That is a good question...
IMO The E-Bike laws in the USA have crossed the line and allow those types of motorized bikes, and I agree, they are
not a bicycle with some assistance, they are a motorized bicycle...
What is considered a bicycle in Europe is an E-Assist with less than 350 watts and assist cuts out at 20MPH, and PAS only, no throttle... That is the type of E-Assist I also consider a bicycle... Just enough power to "help" but one MUST actually pedal about 70% of the distance/effort it take for the bicycle to get from A to B...
If yu don't need or want to use that kind of a "helper" ( and that IS the operative word) than don't use it, just like if you don't want to use 27 speeds as a "helper" don't use it, ride a pure single speed bicycle...
EDIT; And then, when riding a single speed you too, can consider yourself completely off the reliance of the Sherpa's holding your hand, and always there to "help" you...