The lower cost of operation of an EV is quite an inducement to switch, and will leave many ICE cars behind as owners decide they are no longer desirable to own or drive. The range of electric car brands and options in Europe shows this to be true. EVs aren't just a new kind of car, they're better and cheaper to run.

That depends on the charging, the type of driving you do, and huge list of other factors (like peak vs non-peak charging)

It is in fact NOT universally true that EV is a lower cost of operation or TCO as a comparable ICE

Outside of some fringe scenarios, it's pretty hard to be worse in terms of cost of operation from an actual comparable ICE car. Even the slowest EV on the market is quite a bit more 'performance' oriented than something like a Prius... and if you start getting into faster cars (not even necessarily BMWs, but something like a top tier Accord), mpg drops accordingly down into the 30s and op cost goes back up.

Not really, for example the youtube channel Fast Lane truck did a simple towing test of the F150 Lightening and it cost them more per mile to charge at retail charging then it cost per mile to fill up with gas of a similar F150, and that was even with the inflated Gas Prices

Sure if you are only ever home charging, overnight, off peak then yea that will be cheaper than Gas

But if you have to use Fast Charging, from a retail station, chances are your cost to charge your EV will be pretty comparable to the cost of Gas.

I just read an article on ArsTechnica where companies are making synthetic gasoline from wind and solar power. What will happen if this takes off, I wonder?

Hopefully we would pump that synthetic gasoline down the old oil wells, as a form of carbon capture, leaving it all un-burned.

Or as they get retrofitted with electric motors in an mass conversion incentive program.

This will never happen on any mass scale. Once cars get to about 10-15 years (depending on climate) it is not longer economically sensible to do certain repairs, eg engine swap. With EV conversions, it's the same - a lot of money creating a very subpar product - low range, low safety, unbalanced weight distribution, bolted on controls - all to keep a rusted frame and deteriorating upholstery going for a few more years.

EV conversions are a great idea for collectible cars / hobby cars. Classic VW Bug, Fiat 500s, etc.