If price is not an issue, what kind of a job are you commuting too?
For me any frame material is fine but Al has most bang per buck and works OK. I have used chromoly steel in damp coastal zones and it doesn't turn into a pile of rust.
If opting for disk brakes, you need a rear mount on the chainstay.
Sliding vertical dropouts give you all transmission options, as do Eccentric BB.

I like drop bars but there are real issues getting them to integrate with hub gears and hydraulic brakes. Butterfly/trekking bars are more versatile for non-derailleur builds.

My own winter bike is my all-year ride, a Dahon Cadenza Alfine 8 with dynamo lights.
It would be nice to have a wheel swap for those intermittant studded-tyres days but a spare Alfine/XT grade dynohub set is excessive.