No matter how good the Meteor is or isn't is almost beside the point in the US, especially if their aim is to engage new riders. The larger issue, especially in this case is that there just aren't enough dealers and customer service seems to be spotty. I live in Connecticut, an affluent state with strong motorcycle sales. In the entire state there are only two RE dealers, and one is only open three days a week for about 6 hours a day. The other shop is on the North East border on the CT-Mass line about as far from the wealthier part of the state as you can get. The nearest out of state dealers are in NYC and Albany respectively, which puts them out of reach of most CT residents. Meanwhile Honda dealers are just about everywhere, as are most of the metric brands and they all advertise heavily so any prospective newbie is more likely to head to one of them.
Unless the RE dealer network expands, at least in Connecticut, the brand is going to remain somewhat of a "cult" bike, no matter how good they are. And that's especially true if RENA allows dealers to be open part time, and doesn't take customer service as seriously as many of the other manufacturers. FWIW I spent 30 years in the motorcycle business, ten of them as a dealer principle in a multiline shop that sold Suzuki, Yamaha, BMW, Moto Guzzi and Ducati, so I do have some understanding of how a motorcycle business should be run. I guess I should also mention that I do own two RE's, a Himalayan and an Interceptor.