I am glad I read far enough down to see this comment because this is how I was feeling too. You ask an opinion and people tell you a third option that is the "best way" because they do it. I converted my mountain bike to a hybrid and I ride it on the road and kind of like for touring plus around town at times. As long as you get the bars to the right height and the proper grips it is pretty damm comfortable. At first I had my bars low like the bikes in the picture but the grips I was running had a tendancy to make my hands numb after a while. I liked the grips otherwise and instead of exterimenting with all kinds of grips on the market I simply raised my bars 10 mm by moving 2 spacers below the stem and by doing this I got my body weight off the bars so I didn't have so much weight on my hands. It made a night and day difference and I can still enjoy road riding with it. You don't need a drop bar bike unless your racing unless you feel you need to be like the Smiths and Jones. I love it when someone on something different rides right by one of the followers. Be your own person and screw everyone else. Let them blow all their money to be like their friends and neighbors. I think both bikes look cool that said. Go with whichever one fits you best. That's my story and I am sticking to it Good luck!