Thanks for all the tips and suggestions, I guess my issues with a derailleur have been pretty standard, maintenance related ones. I guess it accounts to laziness or inattentiveness on my part to be honest.
So basically it sounds as if the pro to the rohloff is low low maintenance but the con being if you break down in the middle of nowhere, you're up **** creek? Where as its pretty easy to replace derailleur parts wherever you may be? Is that the long and short of it? Also how loud is loud?

As for my other question regarding what bike to purchase, (thanks for the different links and web suggestions) it seems to come down to what you're willing to spend. It seems that broadly speaking, there are the people who will spend the world on a bike and then there are those who'll tour on something they bought for $20 (exaggeration I know). I'd like to know if anyone can tell me whether they've heard of someone who spent somewhere around a thousand to fifteen hundred (with racks) and spent a year or two touring. Would say the Bruce Gordan BLT or the Trek 520 or Surley LHT do the trick for someone in their mid 20s who weighs 65-70 kilos? Or is it better to fork out the extra couple thousand? While I know one could say its just a matter of preference, I would appreciate it if people could explain why they think what they think. ie if you think cheaper is fine explain why, if you think its important to spend more why?
Thanks for your time, and I appreciate everyone who takes the time to answer.
Charles