Yeah, but by the same token mopeds in Michigan are limited devices with no more than 50cc and 35MPH on level ground with a rider of a certain weight, few commercial models come in under that limit, and overboring kits are readily available. De jure illegal, de facto no one gives a crap.

The people "touring" on ebikes (at least the folks in Europe, I have no idea what the folks on pick-your-favorite-US-adventure-trail are doing) are not the folks going around souping up electric motors to bypass laws. They're the folks who view bikes as tools, own one, and use it for everything. They're the folks who haven't even heard of Strava, could care less about how fast YOU did something, who are far more concerned about doing things in the best manner for them.

In any case, I now have a strong desire to go buy an ebike and go on an epic tour, posting here regularly, just to PO people who can't get past the notion what others choose really is none of their business to criticize (unless, again, they are in competition with one another)