I find it interesting, and vindicating, that some of the people buying or leasing their second i3 are moving from the REx to the BEV because they've either never needed the REx, or only used it to verify that it worked! With the larger battery pack in the 2017 i3, if you're buying it for the designed purpose, IMHO, you don't need the REx. If you want to rely on it as an only car (in the USA, that's rare), then, yes, the REx may be a worthwhile add-on, but otherwise, it's dead, expensive weight that you're carrying around for that hypothetical 'need'. Having the heat pump, lighter weight, and faster vehicle in the BEV does have some benefits! If you can always leave with a full battery, and can precondition it, the vast majority of people will never need the REx. FWIW, I don't find the i3 wonderful on long trips. I find it perfectly fine when used within its battery capacity, though, and that's how I use mine. When needed, I use my other vehicle, when more room or range is required. If you absolutely can't support two vehicles, or are willing to borrow/swap/rent one suitable for your trip where it won't work, if you're willing to live with the restrictions, I guess, that points more towards the REx. Different environments, different expectations. The US has some huge distances between places that many people don't want the restrictions of the REx (like stopping every hour or so to refill the tank).
FWIW, over the life of the car (at least most leases), you can rent a suitable vehicle for those occasional trips when the BEV won't work, and still come out ahead, at least for many people.
