I've read that same press kit multiple times too.

I saw a quote from Mr. Sheldon Brown calling Coasting a "wrong headed exercise in form over function." I'm afraid I may have to agree with him. (Well, not afraid. I generally do agree with him...)

On the one hand, I'm happy about getting people on bikes. Really I am.

On the other hand...

Fixing a simple flat on that thing looks like a nightmare. And it never ceases to be baffling to me that people can't understand how to shift a bike. I've known multiple people who are exceptionally offput by that...they speak of it as if it were brain surgery, and would require years of study.

Would a 10 speed drivetrain with a front triple completely blow some folks away? Probably. But several years back, Shimano offered us a remarkable little device that seems to only exist in a tiny little niche market: The Nexus internal hub. Simple, reliable, intuitive, and affordable. It has a clean drivetrain, can be equipped with a coaster OR rim brakes. (And with the new Alfine...discs!) It has a range of gears to take you through almost any kind of commuting terrain. How hard is it to understand how to shift an internal hub? Just twist the grip and look at the number.

I think Shimano could have chosen to market the Nexus system better. Instead they've chosen to push Coasting.

I want to get more people on bicycles...but I want to see them grow as cyclists, from timid path bound wobblers to enthusiastic and healthy commuters. A Nexus hub offers these cyclists the room to grow and take on many challenges. Coasting is like having permanent training wheels attached.