What you're just sayin is correct, the Rivendell line of bikes are fantastic bikes except for the Soma which I've heard are flexy. I considered getting a Atlantis quite seriously but ended up with a Mercian due to the ability to get all sorts of frame add on's and different lugs with better components for about the same cost. But money wise the Sam Hillborne is indeed a great bike for the money.

Not sure if I would classify that Hillborne bike though as a poor mans Rivendell, I guess it's all in the interpretation of the person, but there are far less expensive brand new touring bikes like the Fuji Tourer and the Kona Sutra that both sell for less than $1800 completely loaded with racks and fenders but those aren't lugged steel; but I was more thinking along the lines of something like my 85 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe that I only paid $100 used, thats in near new condition that I use as my main touring bike.

I think the definition of a poor mans Rivendell has gone off track here in my opinion, something lugged that someone paid less than $500 that can be used to do a loaded tour on.

Since you rode those bikes, whats the difference between the Sam Hillborne and the Homer Hilsen? They seem like the same bike with the same idea behind them.