Actually, WRT the subject of gears, one has to remember that a single gear on a fixed can span a number of gears on the geary bike just because of the improved efficiency. When I move from fixed to multi-geared I always initially feel like I'm in the wrong gear and can't find the right one....back on the fixed and no matter if it's going up or down it feels like the right gear (assuming you've chosen one that matches your legs....I think I'm on a humble 60 to 65 inch).
In my case fixed also has a psychological impact - it's easier to get up most hills because you don't have the choice to change down so you quite often just have to go-for-it. On my multi-geared I'd just change down and continue to pootle, but with the fixed I fly up the hill. Thus the fixed feels like it climbs better. YMMV as always.
Fixed gives a better workout when you are training and have limited time simply because you pedal all the time. I've tried pedalling all the time on a multi-gear and on a SS but I just can't do it, as soon as my attention is distracted by something else happening up the road I find I'm coasting!
Less to go wrong. Less to clean. Bike is easier to heft. etc etc
Got an old bike at the back of the shed? Don't want to throw money at it to modernise it but want to to feel as fast as a new bike? Convert to fixed and it may do!
There are obviously down sides: super steep hills, if you have toe/mudguard over lap then fixed makes it worse, killer head winds, etc but to whoever suggested that having invented multigear set ups it is stupid to ride fixed....well you could just as easily suggest that having invented Ebikes it's stupid to ride non-assisted bikes, or having invented cars it's stupid to cycle at all
And fixed is, like, so ethnic init?
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