I'd go for the crosscheck, mostly for its versatility. My thinking is that a LHT is definitely a great bike as a commuter but its strength lies in touring; as everyone has said, it's a heavy, durable bike. The crosscheck on the other hand, can be set up as a "road" bike, a cross bike, a commuter, a tourer, or even a fixed gear if you're into that sort of thing. FYI, I have a Bianchi Volpe that is very similar to the crosscheck and I can't imagine wanting a heavier, sturdier bike for commuting. Plus, you said that your commute is 28 miles round trip, and the crosscheck will definitely be faster, if that matters to you,