Heya folks. Fairly new rider here. Right now I own a Kona Dew FS (link) which I'm riding to get in shape, have some fun, pick up the groceries, etc. I'd like to graduate to a long commute (about 20 km) and, in the future, light touring. By light touring I mean charity rides throughout Alberta and perhaps the Rockies, things like that. Amount of gear carried could range from none to a small tent and food.

So my main dilemma is whether a new bike would be a significant upgrade for my purposes, and if so, whether a touring bike or an appropriate cyclocross bike would be the best choice.

On to my questions that I would be very appreciative if you could help with:

1. Will a touring/cyclocross bike give a significant speed advantage during my commute over my current hybrid assuming the tires stay the same?

1a. If they're not a major upgrade in terms of weight/speed, are there any modifications I can make to my Dew FS for faster riding?

2. Is a cyclocross bike that can handle panniers a better choice than a touring bike for light touring and my commute (that is, will it go faster)?

As a point of reference, here's the bikes I'm looking at:

Touring - Surly LHT, Rocky Mountain Sherpa 30, Trek 520, Cannondale Touring 2
Cyclocross - Specialized Tricross Triple, Opus Sentiero, Surly Cross Check

Thanks much for any and all help.