OP, just a thought after reading your last post. Since you sound like that the local Trek shop is your best option- find out which distributors they work with. If they do business with SBS, maybe they'd be willing to order a Redline Metro series bike for you?

Or maybe look at the dual sports that they have. The base model has an adjustable shock w/o lock out (but it can be dialed down pretty darn stiff). Then you'd have a commuter and a fun bike for the weekends (though you may not want to catch as much air...)