The kickback is one that I've found actually takes some getting used to since it's easy to shift gears when all you really want to do is apply the brake. Once you get used to it though, they're helpful if you have the low gear model. The low gear is a mild help with small hills if you're not a total purist about single speed versus 2 speed. It's a terrain issue- I'd avoid it if you're working many hills, but in flat or semi-flat areas they're fun. You may not even need a 2 speed- you can get single speed models. Until college my main bikes were an old Higgins Middleweight and a Schwinn ballooner and both of them were single speeds with only coaster brakes. I had some fun rides on those.