For me, the one area where the pedal assist system holds an edge over a throttle bike is target HR training. The pedal assist system can be programed to assist/lightly assist/ or not assist based on the entered/desired HR zone for that training session. Today would be a good example of that. On Saturday I went on a 60 mile group ride that was essentially race pace simulation, many times during the ride I was at or near 100% of my output and HR %. Tomorrow night I'll do the same but half the distance with the max efforts closer together. I need a ride today but I'll have to do it on the rollers inside because I have to control my HR to be fully recovered for tomorrow. It's hilly here and I can't go anywhere without taking my HR above recovery rate.
Again, I may not be the average e-bike customer but active recovery days are just as important as full gas days. Without proper recovery there can be no more full gas days, only medium gas days and that doesn't get it done when a small breakaway group is going up the road. I may be wrong, but the e-road bike thing seems like an incredible training tool for anyone in competitive road cycling.
All that said, I voted for Ross Perot so what do I know