Would I be right that regenerative braking should substantially reduce brake pad wear?
I'm betting the pads on ours outlast our ownership of the car. (Note that I have absolutely nothing to base this on other than watching the "I'm braking using the motor and not the pads" meter.)
Not that I find lifetime brake pads to be a big selling point. Other than something like changing the oil, replacing brake pads has to be one of the easiest jobs to do (albeit with some of the greatest consequences should you screw it up). Even with new rotors, I might have to go grab a hammer to knock the old ones loose, then it's another 30 seconds to put the new one on.
Maintenance is baskcally changing oil every two year.
That's to say veihcle that are cheap to maintain are easily found if that's a priority, even amongst unexpected make/models.