The problem with the word "hybrid" is that the majority of bikes sold under that name eventually morphed into what are sometimes called "comfort" bikes. These are bikes that are cheap, heavy, have high flat bars, medium width tires, fat saddles, and often have short travel front suspension and/or suspension seatposts. Here's just one example: http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/...name=Multi+Use

True hybrids are rare and it's kind of a silly category anyway since there's no reason that you couldn't take a hardtail mountain bike on pavement or a cyclocross bike offroad. Is my Surly Troll a hybrid since it has a rigid fork and I only ride it on pavement? If I put a suspension fork and knobbies on it, is it a mountain bike? I've seen them built up with drop bars... does that make it a road bike? What about the Salsa Fargo? What the heck category is it supposed to be? Touring? Mountain? Hybrid? Monstercross? Labels can be useful sometimes, but they can also get in the way.