This can help people who can't shift due to arthritis, which is really cool. I read somewhere recently about an older man, I think in his 90s, who put this on his bike for that reason.

I didn't mention in my OP that I initially thought the bike would shift by itself, like an automatic transmission. I rode it around the block, then went back to the shop to tell them I thought it didn't do anything. Doh! I can't believe they let me live that one down.