I've been Citibiking since nearly the start and I prefer the new models.

Sometimes the brakes are bad, true, but I never pick one with a flat tire (of course checking before I take it out) and I have to say I have gotten tremendous utility from my membership. Sucks to see someone who didn't like it.

I think your last point is pretty devastating and I don't see dockless bike sharing ever reaching the grand scale of something like Citibike.