This is an honest question. You obviously want more than one gear, but it seems awfully fussy and impractical to change gears like you do. Why is this better than having, for instance, a single chain wheel with a 5 speed rear cassette w/ derailleur? Is it just that you don't want a derailleur? I'd have to be convinced that the amount of fussiness and maintenance of a common rear derailleur w/ friction shifter is significant compared to this bike.

Again, this is an honest question. It seems like a fun and cool project, I just don't understand why.