This was one of the bikes I looked (really it was the 750, but, same thing) at when I was trying to decide what bike I wanted to get (before I ended up deciding on the savage). Along with a Vulcan, Sportster, and Shadow. What I think Harley is trying to do is appeal to more beginners and anyone into the Cafe Racer/Bobber/"Custom Cycle" scene. I see a lot of manufacturers are bringing back old bikes,
Suzuki with their TU250X
Yamaha with their SR400
Honda with the CB1100
Those seem to pop out at me the most since I'm a jap-bike fan. I see a lot of "hipsters" cruising around on older CB's and other old bikes that they have rat-biked and bobbed. Seems like it's quickly became a new (or resurrected) trend.
The issue I had with it, goes back to the "market study" mentioned earlier, it's got that Harley name, so people will pay $7500 for it. I'd rather get a Shadow if I'm gonna pay that much. That's why I chose the Savage, I haven't hit 25 years old yet and just about any other bike I chose, would have had insurance premiums through the roof. The other thing, I'm skeptical about "new" models. Cars or motorcycles, you never know what issues will surface in the first batch of products. The savage has been around for so long, everyone knows what it already needs. A raptor petcock and a verslavy tensioner. Other than that, it's flawless for it's designed intentions.
I think the HD Street looks pretty cool. I just don't wanna pay Sportster prices for a 500. The Savage would probably out perform it anyways, with the exception of top speed, but going over 80 MPH is illegal almost everywhere.
As Always, all this is just my personal opinion.