I see those bikes in local bike shops all the time, but Davis is not typical when it comes to cycling, as far as the US is concerned.
Those bikes are interesting, but it seems to me that if one were to buy a road or mountain bike and then add the racks and fenders, one would end up with a better bike in the long run. Those bikes are basically hybrids that come with accessories attached.
The only ones that seem to stand out on their own merits are the ones with internal hub gearing, which is pretty cool and very easy to use, which is a plus for people who are confused by derailer gearing, or need an enclosed drivetrain for riding in a suit or something like that.
As far as people riding them, 90% of the bikes I see around here are from Wal-Mart, and if I ever see a bike with drop bars around here, it is probably a fixie.