3spd, I'm not sure those forks on the Felt are optimum for clamps as the shape is kind of funny/asymmetrical in cross section so I installed an OldMan Mountain Sherpa front rack with front axle mount and cantilever stud mount. OMM also has low rider axle mount racks. I'm mentioning because the frame and fork appear to be robust and utilitarian.
As others have pointed out the mid-fork eyelet is a feature and what you're looking for is a frame for carrying a load. I never found old mtn bikes as a category optimum for touring except as an acceptable and economical conversion for folks needing very strong wheels. I've fixed up a few for others going touring. Low riders on 26" wheels get too low to the curb for my comfort in city riding but top mount rack loads can work well if one brings the panniers aft as much as possible while overlapping front brakes a bit.
I had a fancy touring frame from the late 70's built up for a long tour. It had mid-fork mounts for a custom front rack. It had all the little bits. I was light and packed light. Unfortunately it had a heinous high speed shimmy if I didn't clamp the top tube with my knees on descents. I just put that out as an example of a construction feature being irrelevant to the bikes overall suitability as a touring bike.
One the reasons I like the Felt besides the extra long wheelbase and chainstay length making the bike very tolerant of loads on the wheels is that it's surprisingly solid and comfortable but pretty light unloaded. I could be making a flawed assumption but it seems to me that a medium low cost production bike won't bother trying to make it light so it probably is a bit overbuilt.