It really makes me smile to hear someone in San Diego asking if rain is a good reason to get an IGH. It has rained here 32 of the past 38 days and the 10-day forecast shows at least 9 days of rain coming, and I'm very happy with a derailleur on my bikes.

I used to have a fixed gear bike, until I moved to the top of a 20% grade hill. My commute minus that hill, which is nearly identical to the commute I had when I used the fixie, is flat to rolling hills -- maybe 60 feet variation in any given stretch. When I first started biking, after 20 years as a couch potato, those hills were vicious even with gears. It didn't take long for my legs to adapt though. I generally carry 5-15 pounds of stuff. With the right gearing, a ss/fg bike can be a very good option. It's also a lot of fun. I don't know if I'd want to carry more than a messenger bag full of stuff though.

If I were going to go IGH, I'd probably want something with a belt drive. If you're going to eliminate the derailleur, you may as well get rid of the oil and grime too. That said, I kind of get the impression that the belt drive system still has a few minor kinks to be worked out. I may be misinterpreting the reports. I really like the looks of the Civia Bryant.