Don't all of these objections equally apply to driving in the city? Well, except hills. The link I gave, however, does point to maps for how to avoid the hills, and a route called "The Wiggle", at http://localwiki.net/sf/The_Wiggle .
I've never lived in SF. I have bike commuted in a city with hills. Low gears, go slow, and your leg muscles quickly build up to it.