The reason that you keep entering this revolving door, time after time, is because you keep offering a less efficient tool for the job every single time.

Why use a pair of pliers to turn a hex nut when you can use a box wrench, or a ratchet and socket?

The OP says she wants to do long distance cycling. That automatically implies more variable hand positions. Otherwise, her hands will suffer either numbness, pain, or both. Besides, if the OP should purchase a flatbar road bike or a performance hybrid, but decides later that she'll want a more capable road bike, she'll be forced to make another bicycle purchase. It would be more financially advantageous to purchase a drop bar road bike from the outset, because with the addition of interrupter brakes, the road bike can be ridden just like a hybrid. It's much easier for a road bike to mimic a hybrid, than for a hybrid to mimic a road bike. A hybrid could never attain the aerodynamics of a genuine drop bar road bike.

Sure, a flat bar road bike (performance hybrid) can approach the speed of a drop bar road bike on windless days, but the speed of the bike itself creates air resistance the faster it goes as it pushes against air molecules within our atmosphere. That's wind or no wind! Therefore, the aerodynamics of the drop bar road bike will always be superior. If you're not concerned with speed, but only the amount of distance traversed, then your only concern would be available options for hand positions. Of course, you could always add bar ends or trekking bars, but drop bars offer the most varied hand positions.

At the end of the day, drop bar road bikes rule!

....And that's from a genuine hybrid lover!