I see the current crop of "half-assed hybrid cars" as a necessary step on the road to EV market acceptance; Public charging infrastructure is not at an acceptable level for the average consumer, so automakers found a way to capitalize on the success of their existing ICE products and production lines, while gradually introducing electric technology in a usable-in-the-real-world package. Capitalism 101.
Furthermore BMW never claimed that the BMWi brand was exclusively EVs, nor have they ever marketed the i8 as anything but a plug-in hybrid.
Furthermore BMW never claimed that the BMWi brand was exclusively EVs, nor have they ever marketed the i8 as anything but a plug-in hybrid.