Nope and it is for sure not of an "alien" mentality either - as evident with the "American" attitude towards driving BIG cars and eating fatty convenience foods from gas stations. Just because it isn't "American" that does NOT mean that other approaches (European or otherwise) are nonsense.. What a pious attitude, eh??

Cheap Chinese bicycles made who knows where and "assembled/made in the USA) and sold for high prices to gullible Americans isn't necessarily the way to go either. As my Chinese students used to say when I taught them in North America (in engrish): "Crap is crap".

It may be worthwhile for the OP to find some Eurpoeans and ask them - or find a European website/discussion newsgroup to get some non-USA replies.

I can not help with the 4 bikes the OP asked about, but I'll just say that "new design does NOT mean better". I live in a place where a lot of people use Indian made Atlas and Hero steel framed single speed bicycles with steel rimmed 28" wheels. They are used to haul stuff and for local transportation. They refuse to buy the flashy Chinese bikes with deraillers. There are hills here and if the load gets too heavy (ie the fit-in-the-wall air conditioner) they just push the bike and load until they can pedal again.