Matt, they sell mystique, in the guise of very capable bicycles. (I want one, as you may guess -- I don't need one, but that's how mystique works.) That's why they can make up rules that make no sense, but which everyone follows -- this is not at the level of rationality. But not all variants of mystique are the same, nor do they work in the same way. On this side of the pond, f'rexample, Harley-Davidson also sells mystique, at rather more per slice, and of course you can't fold one up & hop a tram with it. The H-D mystique never did much for me, tho' :-)