Maybe this example could convince people...

A hovercraft is over a conveyor belt. It moves foward as it wishes, regardless of the conveyor belt.

Now instead of air being forced down on the conveyor belt, put wheels (FREESPINNING - that's key) on the hovercraft.

No difference. It will STILL move forward.

Well shit...who am I kidding...that STILL is not going to convince people.

Another reason the original question is worded badly - IF the wheels had enough friction to overcome the engine thrust, then the plane would not take off...but that is NOT going to happen - the wheels are going to fall apart before that happens.

And just for the record, I was one of those who thought it would *not* take off - based on the friction problem.
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"Nature has constituted utility to man the standard and test of virtue. Men living in different countries, under different circumstances, different habits and regimens, may have different utilities; the same act, therefore, may be useful and consequently virtuous in one country which is injurious and vicious in another differently circumstanced" - Thomas Jefferson, moral relativist