WO2W, welcome to the panniers discussion I don't know why, but the pro-pannier people are REALLY pro-pannier. I'm not sure what it is about panniers in particular, but in my experience, they seem to bring out a much stronger reaction that discussing almost any other commuter-related item. Any pro-backpack comments are always replied to with some derision, as if you are not making an informed choice, but are missing out on the 'truth' that panniers are universally superior to backpacks. It's weird because the same people, discussing any other item, seem to be able to appreciate differing viewpoints and offer a wide range of opinions. And no offense to anyone who is pro-pannier, I like all of them and get a lot of useful info from them on other topics, but I've learned to just ignore their pannier posts.

I'm with you, a backpack on top of a rack offers, for my uses, a better value proposition than panniers. (And I get your weight point-if I can easily save 5 pounds, it's really irrelevant what the rest of my commuter stuff weighs. If my commuting gear weight fluctuates by 5, 10 or 15 pounds, or if something else I carry weights an additional 5 pounds, that doesn't mean that a simple 5 pound reduction in weight isn't still worth pursuing, if it works in my situation).