Exactly so!

This is the "problem", frames that are designed for the fat tires tend to be heavy, dead clunkers.

Frames that are light and lively tend to be designed only for skinny, skiny 700c tires. The sweet spot (for me) is a light weight, high quality rigid (non-suspended) mountain bike frame. The frame geometry is more relaxed and confortable. The fat, high pressure tires give all the "suspension" you'll need on a paved road. There's plenty of room for fenders. There's braze ons for racks, if you want them, too. The riding position is somewhat upright but forward enough to be energy efficient and fast. Light weight, aluminum rims, and powerful cantilevered brakes, triple crank up front, indexed shifting,... what's not to like?

That last question is not just rhetoric.