IMO, the Kona and Redline are more equipped for racing. If you're going to be commuting, locking stuff up, using racks or basically using this as your main bike, I would go with steel over aluminum and definitely avoid the carbon in the high-end Konas. Any of these bikes, including the surly, are raceable, but I would pick steel for general use. Also, you need to ride these bikes before you buy. Go check out all the ones you describe. Maybe you'll fall in love with one.