>>1712342>How big are the additional power losses really?AFAIR 10 % for standard IGHs, and below 5 % for good IGHs.
The problem is that if you actually want a reasonably good bike, 10 % is too much, but a good IGH costs like 1k USD or more. So you pay a 1k premium just to get the same efficiency as you get from a chain with a derailleur. That's OK if you really want a belt and/or want an IGH anyway, but otherwise it's just money thrown out the window.
To go for a standard IGH means not having to pay that high of a premium, but also noticeably losing efficiency (and gears), so if you want efficiency (or a reasonable number of gears), that's not an option.
And for people who just want to pay little money and don't really care about efficiency, belt plus normal IGH will still always be more expensive than just going for a derailleur plus chain.
All in all, belt plus IGH are really only an option if you really want them for some reason and have the money for it. They have advantages in durability and requiring less maintenance, but you have to pay for it. And most people evidently care more for the upfront price than those advantages.
