Sadly true.
The irony is that some of these devices have the potential to liberate people, help secure their property (solar powered LED lights, the bigger ones with motion detectors and such that are simple to set up, require little wiring, and even have survived -40 temps). I'm impressed, and they were cheap (especially compared to wiring some lights in).
But for a main power source, for a transportation power source, well, they just aren't ready for prime time. As far as energy goes, here there are times of year when you literally bet your life on reliable energy, even if its just another log on the fire.