I actually just ordered my new commuter from Dahon, who makes the Fly By for Novara. I went with the Speed Pro which has a few more gears than the Fly By, which should be handy for Seattle's hills.

In my case I'm very concerned about storage and security since my last bike was stolen, and the idea of a folding bike that is multi-modal and can be stored under my desk is attractive . . . and a friend of mine has actually been at Dahon for a number of years so on a personal level I feel that it's a very good company that is always trying to improve their products and still keep them affordable.

I'll post when my bike arrives and I've had a chance to ride it a bit. Maybe that will provide some useful information for you.