Seems to me to be an unfair attack on Chinese bikes.You've had one unreliable hub motor Chinese ebike.
Buying another Chinese ebike could be seen as the triumph of hope over expectation.
You will get more grunt from the bikes recommended, but more grunt means more stress on spokes, and you know what happens to those.
Your budget will get you a crank drive ebike from a quality European brand such as Cube.
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I have had two for 7 years or so and they have been excellent.
I am not sure that your comment re stress on spokes holds up to scrutiny. Hub drive or crank drive, the power is transmitted to the rim by the spokes, so can you explain the difference?