Segways are cool. Don't have one but I got a chance to test it once.

I can see how they could be useful for things like malls and factory floors, in a similar way a kick scooter is. But you know what? Kick scooter is even cooler! The speeds you can achieve on a good concrete surface are exhilarating!

From the outside, powered monowheel seem cooler and less obnoxious than segways. The speed of some of them seems utterly ridiculous though (some brands/models are quoted at 20mph)

No, no they don't seem cooler. They actually trigger a grade school tripping reflex making others want to stick out their foot and topple the rider.

People sometimes behave like douchebags. This is probably the same phenomenon that leads some to call users of another piece of technology "glassholes".

You can do pretty impressive stunts with a kick scooter too!

Yes - I think you've identified the reason, they're actively involved. And it's not just cool, using the core muscles is pretty important, as he mentioned.

Perhaps the best thing is that able-bodied people will feel jealous when they see it.

Not just your mind.

http://www.paulgraham.com/segway.html

"Someone riding a motorcycle isn't working any harder [than someone riding a Segway]."

TIL that Paul Graham has never ridden a motorcycle.

When riding a motorcycle, your left hand is used for clutch control, your right hand is used for both front brake and throttle control, your left foot is used to shift and your right foot controls the rear brake. Your arms control the front wheel's angle, which creates lean, and balance must be maintained by your whole body at all times:

- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysQThqrpI1c#t=0m40s

Motorcycling is hard work; thus the multitude of fitness regimens for motorcyclists:

- https://rideapart.com/articles/introductory-strength-trainin...

- http://trackdayfitness.com/

- http://www.soundrider.com/archive/tips/motorcyclist-workout....

- http://www.askmen.com/sports/bodybuilding/the-motorcycle-wor...

- http://www.sportrider.com/fitness-motorcyclists

Riding motorcycle is not as hard as you make it out to be. Unless you're riding liter class or riding it in track, you don't need fitness regimen (see obese Harley riders for instance). Sure all your hands and legs have assigned jobs and the body as a whole maintains balance, but it is certainly way less demanding than say riding a bicycle. When you control clutch, all you're doing is closing your fist. This is true for all the other things you listed. I'm not saying riding a motorcycle isn't hard, but it is not that much harder than riding a bicycle for a normal person.

Source: Rode various motorcycles for ~10 years.

Although I would agree that motorcycling is harder than Segway(ing), I would not say motrocycling is _that_ physically intense[0]. I would argue a bicycle requires more fitness ability then a motorcycle.

Ofcourse, even driving a car in a competitive manner requires good fitness.

[0] Rode a sports bike for many years and attended multiple days of track school and visits to the track.