Lots of great comments, starting with the 2nd post in particular.

I commute on a Cross-Check primarily because I wanted to set up an IGH so I was after the horizontal drops. If I had it to do again I would go for the Disc Long Haul Trucker (was not available then) and tolerate a chain tensioner or tinker with an eccentric BB.

The CC is not the be all, end all, but it's got a very large sweet spot.

BTW, I'm 6'5" w/ size 12 shoes and 175mm cranks riding a 60cm frame (to mitigate the long TT) and showing a lot of seat post. If anyone should be having lots of heel strike problems, it's me. No issues w/ my Topeak Explorer rack and Jandd basic panniers. YMMV.