Excessive admiration seems to be the key. The group most often associated with being "cult-like" is the Bridgestone bicycle owners and that spills over into Rivendell. Those people seem to almost worship the Bridgestone's from the Grant Petersen era. And of course many followed him over to Rivendell. Grant is a unique personality with strong opinions and those that agree with his philosophy on bikes and life itself could possibly be guilty of excessive admiration. If Wabi had a charismatic owner who cultivated a following, perhaps then Wabi bicycles would attain cult-status also. Just my $.02.