I have been expermenting with the difference in reliability over the past few years. riding MTB's, Cross or Hybrid's. When it come to general parts, they all wear about the same. Buit when it comes to wheels.....I hade greater reliability with 26" wheels and slicks vs. 700 c wheels. the combination of flats and broken spokes my problems with 700c wheels were about twice as much as they were with 26" wheel. I am only riding about 140k a week, but the overal maint that I have to put into wheels has been alot. It does not matter if they were hand built, x4 spoke pattern Mavic Open Pros or what.
I just have less problems with the 26".

I do about a 20+ mile round trip and hasve adjusted the gearing accordingly like other people have suggested. It is a tad slower.....but when I need to jup onto a curve when a SEPTA bus does not see me.....I do not worry about bending my rim