Drop bars don't have to be low, and one of the main reasons they're popular is that there are (at least) three different hand positions available: tops, hoods and drops. You can set them up so that you're upright on the tops, slightly less so on the hoods, but a bit more aero when down in the drops. It makes a big difference when riding into a headwind, for example.


It's a give & take between weight, aerodynamics and rolling resistance. For people who intend to use only electric, weight & aero don't matter as much, or will only matter when lifting or pushing the bike around. These are people who would have bought a moped 20 years ago, but the eBike option is a way to not pay title, license and insurance. So they look for something most like a moped, so they can "ride the loophole". It makes sense when you look at it like that, but one has to realize that they're not what we would "cyclists".

For those who intend to pedal more, there can be a different mix. Do you want to mostly pedal, but have the motor option? Then you want something efficient, like a road or gravel bike. Less than 50 lbs. for sure and less than 30 is better. (although $$$$)

There are many schools of thought: For example, my commuter eBike rolls easier than my eFatty; MUCH more efficient on the street, but is set up with rack, fenders and luggage, so it's my main grocery-getter, and I can pedal it on flat ground comfortably at 13 mph. The eFatty is more like 10 mph. An electric road bike would be more like 15 mph, but requires certain posture compromises in exchange for the extra speed/efficiency.