Thanks again. Thoughts:

1) I understand the cable pull issues, but there are plenty of levers for both. Paul brakes look nice, i've had a bike with shimano v-brakes, also work fine. plenty of cx mates use avid shorty ultimates and trps, which are OTT for a bike like this, but i'd happily put avid short 6's or something similar on.

2) points taken on rims. i'll eat my weight-weenieness and get the heavy ones.

3) the 3t bars are staying. They're basically a girly/old man bar, short drop, nice to hold on top. I'm used to the more agressive rotundos. I like the way 3t stuff looks, it's cheap and awesomely built.

4) King headset is staying. They come in blue, and blue is both pretty and inspirational. I already have a thomson seatpost that i'm not using, so it is also staying.

5) Saddle is staying. I dislike leather saddles. I like this saddle. Saddle choice is a no brainer for me.

6) Given that you can boot a tyre, I don't think that a folding spare is so much of a problem. Me+gear weight a lot less than a lot of road riders, and the tyres i'd use (maxxis refuse) last me 5000km on the rear of a road bike. It'd only ever be used as a spare on the front. Alternatively panaracer closers come in 1.25in and are folding. I don't see why a wire bead tyre would be necessary. They ride 700c bikes in most parts of the world i've been to. I don't think there'd be a problem getting spare tyres anywhere, even though they'd not be the best tyres, obviously.

Next question:

Hubs. I've run xt hubs for 5 years on a beater bike, never serviced them, never touched them, still running smooth. I get that a damaged cartridge hub is better than a damaged loose ball hub, but they're cheap, roll wonderfully, come in 36h, and are reliable. Any bike shop in the first world, and probably the third world too can replace and grease ball bearings, and damaged bearing surfaces aren't that big a deal... that said, what are the other options in for a not-too-expensive 36h 135mm hub?