I think many Americans have a higher expectations for safety than many people in China. No way I am packing my kid onto a scooter and driving them around downtown.
I.e. to me, the problem is the US mentality towards car-minded transportation infrastructure, not the expectation of safety in a given culture.
For example, deaths per 100k cars per year in China is 105. In Europe it is 19. In Western Europe it's about 7.
Some EU countries have already announced that scooters will soon be treated similarly to e-bikes, i.e. max 250W and 25km/h for the ones that don't need registration and plates.
While more expensive and less portable, a bike is a lot safer and more versatile.
I think only familiarity leads people to think that bikes are safer than scooters. Given a choice between an electric bicycle and an electric scooter, now that I've ridden both, give me the scooter any day.
Ive had plenty of flat tires on scooters. In fact I had two in one day resulting in me finishing my commute to work in the rain. It was great.
I think they should add blinker light controls to the handlebars.