I sort of doubt most people looking at hybrids are cross shopping them with cyclocross or touring bikes. I know Surly is a popular brand but nearly $1200 for a bike with bar-end shifters and Tiagra derailleurs is a bit expensive IMO. Cyclocross bikes are generally designed to be much better all purpose bikes than dedicated road bikes if you want a versatile drop bar bike that will fit wider tires. Bikesdirect has some better equipped steel bikes for a lot less money than the Cross Check.
Coincidentally I'm in the process of selling my flat-bar hybrid to buy a cyclocross bike or relaxed geometry road bike that will take a rack and wider tires to use for running errands. After putting so many miles on my road bike I'm finding myself missing the drop bars with brake hoods on my around town bike.