I have a couple of emtbs, Both top spec models. Just took delivery of a new Commencal which has the ep8 motor and 630wh battery and it gets about 40% more than my other bike which had the e8000 and 500wh setup.
The tech has improved a lot!
But I ride trails, not surburban stuff. You see the odd fatty on trails but generally on a pedal bike because they aren’t serious riders and not about to drop 10k+ on a bike that they don’t have the skills to really benefit from a bike like that.
If the cities ever provide secure bike lockup at shopping centres I think ebikes can be a disrupter to the electric car industry. Way cheaper to buy. Way cheaper to run. I would ride mine most places if there was somewhere safe to put it.