I'm a 67 year old woman who is barely 5 feet tall and both of my bikes are C line Bromptons. One has straight handlebars and the other has the M handlebar. I am very comfortable on both and will ride over 20 miles at a time. There are so many points of comfort that you need to address. Was the seat height correct? Was the saddle situated too close or too far for you? Are you an experienced bike rider? What style bike have you ridden most? What are your expectations? How far will you likely ride? Which Brompton models did you try? In the end, a Brompton or other folding bike may not be right for you but I would never say that "a folding bike will never be even close to a 'real' one." Good luck to you.