I understand where your coming from. I am mainly just a road rider that like's some citylink bike path's and have a nice roadbike but the over the last 2 year's developed a bone spur in my shoulder . It put's me out of action for 2 to 3 week's if i ride it.
Because of the wider handle bar's and hand position's on a mtb it seem's fine or bearable at least.
I have found riding a hybrid (that's debaitable with some people) more enjoyable and comparing it with my roadbike interesting.
Sure a road bike is faster but not by much and that depends on the rider alot i've got no trouble keeping with roadies.
The control of a hybrid or mtb is far better around town or on bike path's when it get's a'bit rough.
Whenever there's a hill it feel's more natural on mtb to get a higher gear standup and just mash the pedal's.(it's the bar width and hand position's again)
Also they are cyclocross fork's longer than road fork's (410mm axle to crown) and more durable, so i can put nobby's on and hit the dirt if i wanted to. Would have to be cyclocross tyre's though as there 29er wheel's, clearance issue's.
I think it would be interesting to start a new thred on these issue's i'm sure there's a thousand different view's on this.