I have ridden a longer-wheelbase flatbar road bike and traditional drop bar road bike. I liked both for different reasons. I'm sure that whatever I get i'd get comfortable with it, like the feel of a drop bar, so i wasn't to worried about the drop bar part afterall. I decided to go with a flatbar hybrid - the 2012 Focus Urban 27. What sold me on it was a recommendation by the bike shop owner. He's been using the 2010 model to commute to the shop every day and he loves it. He said he used to use his road bike but it got so beat up from the commute that it wasn't worth it. So i figured tougher (yet still very fast) is better in my similar situation. So far this thing is super sweet!