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The problem with wind of course is the it has a ridiculously low capacity factor (below 35%) even in good wind locations..."
That's irrelevant. Dollars spent per watts provided does count--not the amount of wind that a turbine uses. Granted, though, several of the big, corporate government wind farms aren't very cost effective.
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...and very poor reliability."
Only in commercial rigs built by certified, authorized and approved professionals. There are small (10-20' rotor)
homebuilt turbines that use trailer hubs and large, heavy alternators. They're built by men (and beer), and they work fine in areas with frequent high winds (especially those connected to the new MidNite Classic MPPT controller for wind turbines--over twice the current for batteries). I'm in one of those areas.
It is true that,
wind turbines, as they are, aren't good sources of energy for most places (not enough wind enough of the time). They work fine in my area, but most people don't like the extreme winds, thin air or cold.
And BTW, PV solar is much nicer for a lazy man at home here (over 300 sun days per year, too)--very low maintenance.