I ride an 8 speed IGH Linus every day and have put a little over 2,000 miles on it. I don't know if I got a lemon or not but I'm currently having the hub/wheel replaced because it died on me.
2,000 miles seems like not a lot to have killed a gearing system. Other than that, and the fact that it's heavy, it's been a solid bike.
I don't ride it in any kind of yucky weather, so I can't speak to Chicago winters but - it's worked for me so far.