In a street fight is the person really going to give you that much time to let you kick? You can see a kick from miles away therefore giving the opponent more time to react. So when you're trying to look cool and spin kick someone ass he/she is going to be able to take you to the ground easily and destroy you with ground and pound. Simple.
Kicks can still be useful. For example, as a finisher. Punches are quicker and easier to aim, but kicks have longer range and more power. If you can land a couple good punches, you can daze or wind your assailant and knock them back into kick range, and then finish the fight with a kick while their reflexes are slowed. Also, for the average untrained person, there's a vast difference between seeing a kick coming and being able to counter one. You might think, "I can just grab their foot and flip them," but if you don't have the coordination to catch their foot, they'll just plow through your fingers and into your face. Or if you grab before their momentum is spent and they're stronger than you, it'll take you down as well as if you hadn't blocked.
I do agree, however, that when compared to punches, kicks are at a disadvantage when it comes to speed, telegraphing the move, and the user's balance. I just don't think that kicks are completely useless in a fight.
I think (with my zero experience) that a kick is a good way to start and finish. Not this fancy kick like in the gif but just a straight up side-kick. Fast and powerful to indicate you're willing to hurt them then move with your arms for faster and more rapid strikes. Then a kick in the balls (or boobs) and run the hell away.
She's scary
I do agree, however, that when compared to punches, kicks are at a disadvantage when it comes to speed, telegraphing the move, and the user's balance. I just don't think that kicks are completely useless in a fight.