As someone else pointed out, the marketization of cycling is one of the many reasons why the process is such a daunting one here in the US. There are so many things we're told we need to even BEGIN; the more complex we make things, the less likely people are to try them.
I agree with a lot of what you say but I don't believe this. You tend to acquire things after you start commuting. Many new commuters I have seen this summer use a backpack, gym shorts, and a Wal-Mart bike. There are other things that make it complex.
Commuting to work by any means is a serious task for most people. You need to get there and get there on time, which requires dependable/reliable transportation. I don't think many people consider using a bike because they don't have confidence in them or their ability to change a tire on the road side if they needed to. Having a strong European public transportation system to fall back on helps this greatly. The rest of us have to carry spare tubes and tools and learn to do the roadside tire change.