In my experience bikes with Bosch/Bafang motors/batteries will be more reliable and easier to find service for. There are many brands/options/price points with that constraint.
Your point #1 was the case for our family as well. E-bikes allowed us to go from two cars to one car which has been amazing. So many of these conversations get caught up in ban bikes vs. ban cars and it is exhausting.
Lots of info from NHTSA [1]. Like many complex things, it's tricky. "While the presence of a red light camera system has reflected increased numbers of lower impact rear end crashes at intersections where the systems are installed resulting from drivers stopping for the red light, research has also found a reduction in more dangerous offset and right angle crashes at intersections with red light cameras".
In general it seems like a win to me but if you get into technicalities then yes, some research has shown more low-impact rear end collisions. They go on to say "Additional studies may provide greater insight into whether or not such crashes persist where the technology is in place for longer periods of time. The effect of warning signs, public education, and familiarity with the presence of the system in the fullness of time is not clear."
Income based fines are used elsewhere [1] to try and counter some of these issues. Not sure of the barriers for this type of approach in the US but I think it would be more effective than flat fines with leniency for lower-income offenders which seem to be the approach often taken.
For the CA bill: "People who meet certain income or housing criteria can also receive deductions of these fines anywhere from 50 to 80%." [2] This seems much less effective than something that is based on income.
I struggled with the same search and ended up getting the AirGradient DIY Pro Kit Pre-Soldered. Not quite plug and play but the steps to get it up and running are fairly straightforward. Just plug parts in, drop some firmware on, and go. Curious what other suggestions are out there because I would still like something simpler!
At least in the US gas taxes and usage fees don't come close to covering the cost of roads [1,2]. In the US all of us pay for roads through other taxes because the use fees and taxes don't cover the cost of the infrastructure.
It's a great group of advocates that are making impactful changes across the US and internationally.