Well, I took in all the advice today, and really thought about my needs and why I wanted what I wanted. I test rode three bikes today.

1. The Raleigh Alley Way
2. Raleigh Sojourn
3. The Specialized Globe Haul (2010)

I decided on the Haul! It was a _blast_ to ride, and I am able to readily get parts and such for it! I get fenders, 9x2 Alivio group, and a rock solid braking system. This thing feels like a tank, and the frame-integrated rack and lighting (though the frontal light leaves a bit to be desired) are AMAZING. I road it for miles and miles while I left my DiamondBack with the LBS owner, and I was hooked. The Raleigh was far too expensive for what I was able to get, and I can go Alfine on the Haul for less than 350$ if I feel the need later (for what it is worth, the cassette and crank groups of the Haul are far better suited for my commutes.)

The Sojourn and Alley Way are phenomenal machines, dont get me wrong. The issue of having readily available parts for the Alley Way nagged me until the end of the decision, and the Sojourn simply required far too much after-purchase investment in parts to be fully commute ready. I loved both bikes though, and it really is a shame that Raleigh didn't at least include a rack with the Alley Way. I still love that bike, but it really is more novelty than function, and my LBS guys helped me really dial in my needs, and figure out if it was worth the extra cash for the Alley Way.

I ended up buying the Haul at the end of the day. The out-the-door price for a set of matching panniers, lock system, and the bicycle was $525 and he left me the option of having a spare wheel built with the Alfine hub for $300 out the door with a full 1 year warranty! This is going to be the perfect bike for my commute, and I wish I had just done this before spending the cash on the Diamondback. I feel pretty dumb now, I'll tell you that. Now I at least have a beater that is still set up for commuting though...

TL;DR: The Specialized Globe Haul ended up being nearly $1000 cheaper, being far better suited for commuting, and retaining the excellent good looks that I loved about the Raleigh Alley Way, so I bought it, got a kick ass discount on last years model (unfortunately I missed out on the disc brakes of the 2011 model, and Alfine group, but that can come later.)

Thanks guys for giving me some real points to think on, and for keeping a healthy skepticism against spending 1500+ on a commuter!

EDIT: I should mention the main thing that swayed me toward the Haul was the ability to inexpensively repair the drivetrain and other components. The belt drive was great on the Raleigh, but would happen if I were to experience a failure 35 miles from home/LBS? Same for the Alfines. I stand a much better chance of obtaining and repairing the parts that might experience problems on the Haul, and it is pretty damn quiet to boot!