I think it would have alot to do with your personal perference as well as how much you wanted to spend.
I also looked at the Surly but I'm also not crazy about the chainstay shape either. IMO the "maroon" lookes more like "hershey" brown to me. So I went with the Dawes SST because all I really wanted in the first place was a beater FG to ride without worries if it gets banged up some. $325 SST + $30 cog/lockring and it's enough to fit my needs.
Again I think it is all in how much your comfortable in spending. Good luck.