1) IMO, the problem bike shops have with bikes like those produced by Radpower is they didn't make any money on them. Every bike shop owner has complained about DIY too.
2) It's ridiculous to talk about taking an e-bike on a plane since the batteries (unless < 100 wh) are illegal.
3) I have a Haibike for off road as well as a Diamomdback with $200 direct drive system for errands. The hub drive is perfect for road riding as long as you're not dealing with San Francisco's steep hills.