I would be willing to be bet that the Gunnar is lighter, rides better and has much better build quality than the LHT. Nothing wrong with a LHT, but Gunnars are simply better bikes if you've got the money to pay the difference. Plus you can get a Gunnar painted just about any color and get custom geometry for an upcharge.

Also check out the Soma Saga, which costs about the same as a LHT and has a geometry more favorable to many people (taller head tube, shorter top tube).

For light touring (credit card, supported tours), the Salsa Casseroll, Soma ES, and Gunnar Sport are all worthy choices.

BTW, I bought a Bob Jackson World Tour for commuting direct from England, and it didn't cost that much more than a LHT ($630). They will paint your bike in just about any color/decal combination. The BJ World Tour is designed for loaded touring, so it rides stiffer (unloaded) than a typical road bike or sport tourer. In contrast, my Salsa Casseroll (a sport tourer) has much more comfortable ride unloaded with comparable tires.