It's not about "big heavy bikes", it's about 'Too Pooped To Pump To Participate' or in simpler terms, it's like Viagra for your legs.
When people get older and their facilities are in decline, it's a wonderful thing to feel energized, youthful and like they can do something that assists in keeping their health from further decline.
Sitting down on the couch after dinner and pushing buttons on the remote control to go to Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune is a sure fire way to start the decline.
Whereas pushing the button to go from ECO to TOUR to SPORT to TURBO and doing 10-12 miles after dinner may help keep things in the body functioning just a little bit longer than without.
Still, you don't have to be a 'Cranky Old Fart' to be e-bike eligible, it opens up a whole new world and experience.
Just look around your towns, look at all of the increase of bicycles in the last few years. Was it like that 10, 20 30 or 40 years go? Nope, not here in the US. Maybe in other parts of the world, so now people are realizing the benefits of the assistance if they choose an e-bike over a regular bike.
Each to their own, I like Porsches and I like Volkswagens. Same with bikes. Choose your preferred one, enjoy life. You could be dead tomorrow.