[twblalock]

Part of the problem is selling front and rear derailleur gearing to cyclists for whom it does not make sense.

Internal gear hubs make a lot more sense for casual cyclists -- they are easier to learn, they can be shifted when the bicycle is not moving, and they are far less likely to drop a chain during shifting than derailleur gearing. They are also better protected from weather and impact.

Almost all of the utility bicycles I've seen in Japan and Europe had internal gear hubs. I didn't see many people commuting on the kind of bicycles that American cycling advocates seem to prefer.