I may be in the same position as you. I'm looking at hybrids, which are cheaper than both road and 'cross bikes yet have (almost) all of the qualities that a commuter needs. I've narrowed my search down to the Jamis Coda series. The Comp version has a steel frame and a carbon fiber fork, providing a better ride than most aluminum bikes in its class; a one-position-does-it-all flat handlebar; triple-ring Shimano XT setup; Avid canti brakes for one-finger stopping; a gel-filled seat; 700cc wheels (Mavic, I believe); and, yeah, eyelets for racks and such. My local has it for around $750. There's a Sport version, with a lower-grade set of stuff, for about $200 cheaper. That said, most bike companies are making these sport hybrids. Some are better than others, though. Hope that helps.