Singlespeed and the gear ratio "thing"

Much has been written about this, but two of the best explanations I could find come from www.sheldonbrown.com and http://www.surlybikes.com/spew11.html

Why singlespeed? If you are asking the question, you probably wouldn't understand the answer. Seriously.
Why climb a mountain if you can be flown to the top by helicopter?