Exactly. This is a niche item that is way overpriced for the common person or even as a toy for the rich.

These have been in use in Chandler Arizona, since August, by the post office - to reduce heat exhaustion and to see how the Segway can handle 115 degrees.

The problem is it has no radiation shield - the thing needs a metal umbrella to help reduce the sun exposure of mail carrier riders. Around arizona most of the mail boxes are gathered into clusters on the ends of streets, so as to ease the summertime suffering of the postal workers. I have heard it is popular in the Far east. This sort of toy is exactly the sort of geeky thing the Japanese, Koreans, Chinese, etc. would embrace wholeheartedly and make a little cult around.

To be a Sharper Image type play toy for the US - it would have to be about $1200-$1500 to make it competitive. For 5 grand I can find a nice classic auto project to have a lot more fun with.

SDAI-Tech1