REI sells Cannondale too ya know. As well as lightspeed, marin, electra, K2, and yetti.(REI is not allowed by some of the bike makers to sell online, like C'dale and Lightspeed)

The Randonee will take some beefy tires, you can try the drops long enough to really get used to them and then if you don't like them sell the shifters and bar and get a flat bar and shifters of your choice(trigger or grip).
The other option would be to try the Randonee for a month or two and if you don't like it return it and get a Badboy, if you don't like that, return it and try something else. Try not to trash the stuff, if your thinking about returning it, just to be a good person, but even if you do get a few dings in it they will take it back with no hassle.

I like the old school copper color BTW.