every time I read about comparison with a bike friday, I am sensing a "emotional and sentimental and patriotic" aura of a bike "entirely made in america with PRIDE"

is it just my feeling?
I haven't really riden one, but if a compact fold is what we are after (to get on the bus/or train), the bike friday (tikit) is definitely not "compact" compared to a dahon, let alone a brompton.

yes, the absence of a hinge on the BF (also on a birdy), logically would give a "better" ride...

yes, we all understand.
a smaller company can provide you with a better service, rather than the huge factory that massproduces millions of foldingbikes like dahon.

considering my budget, I wouldn't want to spend above 1000 dollars, just because it is handmade.....