Touring bikes a designed to haul stuff. If you're just going to want a back rack at the most I would go with a relaxed geometry road bike. The Raleigh Sojourn is a lot of bike for what you want to do with it.

Sounds like you had a pretty good idea that it would be overkill, but if you like the bike, it'll certainly take everything you'll throw at it. : )

If that were my budget and needs I'd go with something like a Salsa Casseroll. Sadly, I just found out they stopped making it. : ( I was going to link you to it.