I don't agree with that. My wife can hear me coming home on my bike two blocks away. So I'm sure cars in the immediate vicinity of me can hear me just fine. I don't know if they save lives or not but I'd rather have someone hear me and look for me than have them not be able to hear me and have no idea I'm anywhere near them.
And as far as all the hype over whether it's a "Harley" or not is just an individuals preference. We have riders in our groups with custom choppers, hondas, suzuki's, yamaha's...every type of bike imaginable. We're all riders, doesn't matter what you ride. I just always loved the Harley Fatboy and that's what I bought. I can afford it so big deal. I don't look down on people that ride something different so I don't think anyone just talk sh-- because I choose to ride a Harley.