The ride: Alfine 8 speed on a Surly Cross Check. Use it in 4 seasons and FWIW I don't feel any difference in the winter to summer with the grease and the drag in the hub or whatever. I'm in year 4 with it.

Pros:
- Very low maintenance. I had it pulled apart, serviced, and re-lubed this summer after 3 years, just for the hell of it. Otherwise nothing at all.
- Silent. great for sneaking up on pedestrians ;-)
- Shifting while stopped is a surprisingly useful feature for a commuter/town bike.
- Gear ratio is plenty wide for Minneapolis all year round. The gaps are wider than a 2x9 but whatever. I also ride road, mountain, fat, and single speed bikes too, so it is what it is.

Cons:
- it hates shifting under stress. you have to let up on the pedals, It's a small thing but I find it annoying.
- Heavy. I still like a light bike, but that idea goes out the window with this beast back there.
- A tiny bit more of a pain to fix a flat, but really nothing major.
- Not many choices for OEM shifters. I use a J-tek which is great. Every other type I've tried are cheap crap.

Summary: An IGH is a great choice for a commuter/town bike, especially if you ride in all conditions. What you give up in performance and weight is more than made up for in reliability and low maintenance. I highly recommend.