> ... the folding bikes at the LBS's don't look like they'll
> be up to the extended riding I'll be doing or they won't fold
> down enough.

=v= From what I've seen, these are mostly Dahons. They've
actually improved quite a bit: they redesigned their hinge last
year (it now works!), plus they now have a really lightweight
model (but it's aluminum and feels like it). They still aren't
up to Bike Friday (BF) standards, though, in ride or fold.

> 1. give me an idea as to if a BF makes sense for the type of
> commute I have in mind specifically in terms of folding for
> the bus / subway.

=v= The MTA's bike policy for the subway is very reasonable,
only two rules: no bikes wider than the subway cars (!) and no
riding bikes on the platforms. Otherwise they expect people to
use courtesy work things out on their own. So, you don't even
need to have the bike fold, but it's courteous of you to do so,
and bravo!

=v= If you're going to be folding it every day, I'd recommend
against the "Air" models (with the V-shaped frame). The newer
left-fold bikes are good to have on a packed train, because they
put the oily chain on the inside instead of next to commuters'
legs. Overall, it's good to have a smaller bike in the subway
because of all the gates and stairs and such that you'll be
maneuvering around.

=v= I've never used the bus, so I have no insights there. I
searched http://www.mta.info/ and the only bike policy I could
find was: no bikes on buses. As far as I can tell, there's
no folding bike policy. (I've written them to suggest such a
policy.)

=v= Usually the "carry-on luggage" policy for buses is to only
have something you can fit in a rack overhead. You may be
able to put your bike in a nylon bag and not mention that it's
a bike. (Sometimes it's a hassle even if a system has a folding
bike policy, because drivers aren't always aware of them.)

> 2. If some one in the area (I live in manhattan) would be
> gracious enough to allow me to get a close up look at one
> of these machines. I think I'm looking at a pocket pilot,
> rocket, new world tourist, or crusoe.

=v= Someone else'll have to do this, because what I've got is
an Air Glide -- one of those V-frame models I don't recommend
for your needs. (It's a great bike, but not for daily folding.)
<_Jym_>

P.S.: BFs have two "levels" of folding. There's a "quick
fold" for daily use, and a bit more disassembly to put it in a
suitcase for travel. The quick fold is a matter of releasing
two safety catches, and that's it. I only mention this because
I keep reading about people who seem to think that BFs are hard
to fold, and it's just not true.

(Actually the "Air" models don't have a quick fold, though you
can fold them in half really quickly, and with an allen wrench
you could get it into a nylon bag in less than a minute.)