I totally understand what your saying...I too commute on a hybrid (Trek 7.2 FX). I rode it when I joined my cycling group...and was struggling to keep up. Tires on my FX were 35's and gearing not same as a road bike. People kept telling me..."just wait til you get your road bike, you are going to fly!"
I am still carrying 75 lbs excess weight but I got my road bike and the difference in what I can do on it compared to the FX is rather amazing.