For those that have a problems with the range being short, let me but this in perspective from a transportation planning traffic modeler to predict traffic and roadway usage for the future.
When calcuating model efforts (which we validate with real data collected) we account for:
home base work trips
non home base work trips
home base non work trips
and non home non work trips
Obviously these scenarios, from a real life perspective:
I go to work and come home
I left a meeting and went to work
I drove from home to the grocery store
I went from one store to another
Each of these "scenarios" have attactions. A traffic model predicts areas of more jobs attacts more people from higher residential livings. Using the models (remember based on REAL LIFE data), all scenarios with the exception of home base work trips account for only 25% of all trips made. Think about it, what trip do you make most often? I go to work 5 times a day, the grocery store only once a week, maybe to a store to pick up a movie or something once a week or every other week, I visit my inlaws (close by) once every two weeks, etc.
As you can see the majority of all your trips are to and from work. Buying a car for the worst case scenario (i.e. for the entire life of the car I may drive to DC!! OMG I need a car with a 40 gallon gas tank is uneconomical and unfeasible). So for each person, its to decide how often they make these extratrips that would be out of range. Its better (and more economical, usually) to either have a back up car of to rent a car..both of wich can seem odd/strange because its different. I once thought as many do, "but I cant drive to X place anymore!" yet, when realizing I make trip X once every 4 months do I really need the extra capacity?
Looking at this subjectively instead of what we are used to can really bring a different light to the subject. If you find you constataly make trips that are longer than 100 miles roundtrip, than the leaf is not for you, which is totally cool!
On the deals with the leaf being cost effective. Again, thats really depends on many issues. I pay 9 cents a kWh for electicity (mostly natural gas based energy), apply that rate and I beat any gas car (even a prius) with gas around $3.90. For some it may not make any sense. Thats cool, the car isn't for you, get what you want!
As for the constant quirks and problems, I think this is a non-issue. Firstly, all eyes are on the leaf, so every small mishap is reported ad-nausium. Secondly, the whole process has been more revealing than probably most cars to date. How many people have followed the recalls and problems with a Hyundai Elantra? If you look, ALL cars when the make a new model (especially a brand new one, not just a major overhaul) there are LOADS of issues. How many people were early adpoters of the original iPhone? Its perfect right because all consumer goods are perfect and free of problems the second they hit the shelves and (sorry I am picking on Apple here, but its an easy explanation) what about the attenna problems and the iPhone 4 for the "early adpoters" of the new model?
In sumation, every "early adopter" knows there will be problems, but we accept it to get the coolest, newest, and/or neatest item. The cost and range is not for everyone. But its folly to look at it from a high view and say it won't work without looking at your numbers and evaluating your driving habits (without bias!). If it doesn't work for you, it doesn't, thats cool, buy what want. For me, the nissan leaf works. I don't need the extra range (work is 55 round trip), electricity is cheap so its cost effective (plan on keeping it for ~10 years unless it gets totaled), and I don't mind being an early adpoter. I am what I classify as an ecogadget freak. I love eco gadgets and this is exactly something that makes me excited.