As a 45 yr old with 10 years in the saddle of 'bent tikes, I can personally vouch for the durability and dependability of Greenspeed trikes. Currently a GTT & a GTX. As for the "crane needed" to mount the steed, that may be the case. Once aboard though, the speed & comfort are second to that ever present "recumbent smile". Of course the tandem (GTT) is the perfect "date mobile" as your signifcant other is never left behind. Anywho, my $.02 would be to check out;
Kettweisle trikes from Germany. They are Delta trikes (one wheel in front, 2 in back) with a fairly high seat height. The front wheel can be removed and the fork attached to the hitch on the back of a second Kettweisle trike, effectivly making a tandem from two singles. They are not inexspensive, as they are also very well built.
If Worksman could incorporate using a Rholoff 14 speed internally geared hub on the drive wheel. I have friend who has one of these hubs on a Greenspeed GTR. The front shifting is a Schlumph Speed Drive crankset. This is the simplest form of 28 speeds available and offers a fairly wide range of gears. I must admit that shifting is definetly "unconventional" to say the least. You just keep twisting the grip shifter until you reach the desired resistance. It almost seems like it's broken because it never seems to reach the end. 'Round & 'round that shifter goes! And then to shift the front, you whack the crank with your heel and BOOM! Big change of gears! 14 NEW gears to twist through!
Of course neither of these shifting units come cheap, but the best things rarely do.
Good luck in your quest to get "'bent"!
Dr. D