I love climbing bikes but if my ride starts with a fun descent it's still enjoyable even though I haven't paid for it yet :)
But I appreciate your point about the high efficiency of bikes. On flats or downhill even a casual peddler hardly needs an e-bike to cruise around at a 'much faster than walking' speed (say, 12-15 mph). It's the uphills (or, as you say, headwinds) where most people feel like they are going too slowly ('I could be walking!') and really appreciate the boost of an e-bike.
But I appreciate your point about the high efficiency of bikes. On flats or downhill even a casual peddler hardly needs an e-bike to cruise around at a 'much faster than walking' speed (say, 12-15 mph). It's the uphills (or, as you say, headwinds) where most people feel like they are going too slowly ('I could be walking!') and really appreciate the boost of an e-bike.