Originally Posted by berlinonaut

Have you owned one? They are still - after more than 40 years - the best in class when it comes to folding. They were developed as commuter bikes and are definitively fit for that purpose and got enhanced each and every year. You can do other things with them as well (and many people do), but obviously for many of those purposes other bikes are better suited than the Brompton. You possibly do not complain the lack of off road capabilities of a Ferrari I'd assume. If the Brompton fits your taste is obviously: a matter of taste. I for my part do not need electric powered windows on my Brompton. I'd even avoid them if they existed. Many people that own cars made in the 90ies today make the unpleasant experience that the electronics in those cars offer more comfort than earlier models had - but only as long as they work. Unfortunately they do not work as long as their mechanical anchestors and if they break they are expensive or even impossible to fix. So I for my part favor simple constructions as they last and if they have proven to last many years they are probably a good investment due to reliability. Others may consider those to be old fashioned - let's talk again twenty years later... Given how many bikes Brompton sells I am not alone. Neither are you and luckily there are other brands as well that may fit your taste but not mine.