You are mistaking me for an enviro-wacko. My primary reason for doing what I've done (the truck, the garage) is for energy independence. Hell, man, I even burn my trash.
Ah, there we go. Thinking like a liberal. DEMAND!!! Demand from whom? Big Brother? Why should I demand a nuclear power plant when I can just buy my own stuff and take my house off the grid right now?
Well, it's hard to refute your vague accusations of how bad batteries are, because it's so vague. Lead acid batteries are recycled (unless you're a gun-totin' redneck that just throws it in a creek, right?). Stores even attach core charges to encourage lead recycling. I guess you could go off on a further tangent and say that even the recycling process consumes energy, but it's difficult to compare apples (home-made electricity) to oranges (power plant provided electricity). No, they don't need batteries, but yes, they do need miles and miles of wire... and people to cut down the trees... and right-of-way to inspect the lines... and vehicles and manpower to maintain the lines... on and on.
I'm going to bow out now, though. If you're not convinced, you're not.