I can't respond to your pm since my post count is under 50, so here are my thoughts on the IGH on my Graduate.

It's a Sturmey Archer 5 speed IGH with 70mm drums. I believe it's the RX-RD5, I'll double check when I leave work today. Here's a link.

RX-RD5 ? Sturmey Archer

I don't really have any complaints with this hub, it's been trouble free so far. It did take some work to figure out the proper tension on the shift cable, but that was just my lack of knowledge. It's dead flat where I ride so I typically don't use the lower gears, 3-5 is where I tend to stay. I find that the gear ratio is adequate for my riding, I don't find myself needing a lower gear or wanting anything higher as of yet. The brakes aren't as powerful as rim brakes or discs obviously, but the wet weather performance is consistent as you would expect. Being able to shift gears when stopped at a light is extremely convenient, I would imagine even more so in your hilly environment.

All this being said, it's the only IGH I've ridden so I don't have a great frame of reference to compare it to other IGH's on the market.