^^^My MTB-turned-commuter is an old steel dept. store Raleigh with Shimano 100GS components. You're right; my hybrids are not really a huge departure from this bike, but it just somehow feels more agile (at low speeds) whereas my other bikes seem more stable once I get moving at a good clip. BTW I'm loving that Kona! In regards to my stereotypical view of messengers, fixies, and short chainstays (thanks for setting me straight, BTW) I was thinking of something like this:
