You only half disagree because you're actually passionate about them.
Folks that live where emissions are required can't do what you describe, and "phenomenal" comes with qualifiers. They get garbage mileage in the city with bypassed/inop battery, and are grossly under powered. They are phenomenal freeway cruisers though... when you eventually get them up to speed.
"cheap and reliable" - there are plenty of other non-battery issues that can rapidly destroy any gas savings particularly if you can't do your own work.
So we come back to having to be passionate about them... you don't care about the economics, and are willing to deal with the issues ANY 12-18 year old car may throw at you.