Different strokes. I have zero use for a rack on my commute, and panniers have so many drawbacks that I wouldn't consider them except for touring, grocery shopping and the like. OP says he'll carry little if any load daily so panniers don't matter. Racks don't matter. The ride matters.

It makes sense that for longer daily rides on the road, a road bike is the best choice. They aren't built just for speed, you can raise the handlebars if you want, I don't feel at all uncomfortable, differences in handling are a matter of a few rides to get used to, and so on. I pretty much disagree with all of the criticisms - but, there are racing bikes and then there are racing bikes. If you get something extreme or you are inflexible there could be problems.

Last year, and the two years before that, my commute was the same as OP describes but 4-5 days per week. A couple of years before that it was just a few miles, this year it is around 15 rt but every day, all weather. The racing bike configuration is not a problem - I've never said to myself "dang I wish I had a rack, suspension and bigger tires on this bike" nor even once "gee, this is uncomfortable and twitchy today." I jumped in cold at age 48 btw, out of shape and no experience, and barely able to ride 3 miles without distress, and for sure not a racer then or now.

They'll all work, and it's a matter of individual preference. I'm just saying, OP, don't let anyone scare you off the bike you want and that there is no real reason to be reluctant to use a road bike or "racing bike" for commuting. There are advantages and drawbacks of each style, but no line where you can definitively say "that won't work" nor "this is ideal."