No mudguards? I've a pair of SKS guards as standard, Rack? yep got one of those as well, only I took it of as I didn't need it. Gears? living in a very flat part of the world I don't need them. As for that tired old jibe about the bike's fold, I really don't see the point in paying three times as much for a bike that folds a tiny bit smaller.
Myself and a Colleague at work both have Terns and neither of us have had any issues, looking on this forum past the million posts about Brommies there is one thread I've seen where there are specific problems with a Tern. Maybe me and my friend are statistical anomalies, or maybe the whole issue is overhyped and overblown rather like Bromptons.
Nope I stick by my original post, my bike is light, strong, cheap and above all else well built and reliable. The Tern Verge is another matter though, they are priced to compete directly with Brompton and then you can start to make direct comparisons.