Originally Posted by amaferanga
The SRAM S7 and the Shimano hub have roughly the same range (303% for the SRAM, 307% for the nexus 8) so the S7 certainly isn't "far lower geared"! Obviously the gears you get depend on the chainring/sprocket combination.
All true. However, the sprocket that ships with the S7 causes it to be far lower geared. These sprockets are very inexpensive and very easy to change. As shipped, the S7 is suitable for mountain bikes and hills; however the free sprocket that ships with the Nexus 8 provides an instantly-usable mainstream gear range.
Sure, it is only about a $3 sprocket. That little sprocket is entirely responsible for this difference.