Two Scenarios:
1) I have been touring for over 30 years on a number of bikes. I have ridden most of the major manufacturer's touring bikes (most for just short test rides) including riding one across the country a couple of years ago. There is not a stock bike that is set up the way I want it without retrofit. I've reworked every bike that I've owned. I liked the way the Surly fit (average build), and I picked up a new LHT frame. I selected every part on the bike -- right down to the spokes and spoke nipples. I did not use "Top end" components, just good components that I have experience with. I have a "custom" bike set up exactly the way I want it. It was also in a color that I liked (Black Cherry Red). I have the tools and experience to build what I wanted. Is it finished? No, there are several things to do like cut the steerer tube (maybe), change the stem (maybe), and add racks and fenders. I'll also continue to "tweek" it as time goes by.


2)My wife who also has had several bikes, several thousand miles of loaded touring experience, as well as a heck of a lot of road biking (Triathlons) experience is looking at a new bike. She is one of the only woman I know that can tell the difference between an 8 speed and 9 speed Shimano chain pin. The point is, she knows bikes and bike equipment. She is also retiring this year, and we just happen to live 45 minutes from the Co-Motion shop. She is short at 5'3", and had to make do with the best fit she could get on stock bikes. As a retirement present, I'm getting her a Co-Motion Nor'wester Tour. Again, even custom building (which we are doing) we can not get the bike she wants (Mountain bike drive train, short-reach STI shifters, etc)without going through a shop. By the time the local shop changes almost every major component (if they will even do it) would have been cost prohibitive for me. After talking to the folks at Co-Motion, we decided to get a frameset, and build it up ourselves.

Is it expensive--yes. Is she worth it--yes.

The point of all this BS, FWIW, is reiterating what most folks have already said-- get a good bike, ride it enough to figure out what you really need or want. Then go get it. However, you might be surprised to find out it does not have to the "best". As someone said "it is not about the bike".