I rode part of Thunder Ridge behind a guy with a Straggler. He loved it.
There really is nothing more to say about that situation.

BF C&V guy Amani-something built a loaded touring LHT, 10-sp Campy bar ends, racks, panniers, fenders, really a top-flight build. It rode very nicely, and was geared for being heavy. I would not have hesitated to take it on a long tour, but the approach to loaded touring is quite different than a simple C&V steel road bike. He also had a Panasonic DX6000 that was heaven to ride, but definitely not intended for loaded touring.

The type of riding is simply apples-oranges. We can argue the merits of different steel and aluminum bikes all we want, but the switch, as the OP asked, is from one particular type of bike/riding to another.

As for some of the other posts, maybe too much coffee on the part of one, and that Bob Jackson is sweet. Cannondale ST fans are out there, and rccardr has one of the sweetest I've seen; if he says it rides great, I believe him. There are just as many Trek 520/720 and Specialized Expedition/Miyata 1000 fans out there. Having had an ST-400, I can only say it wasn't my style, and that's it for me.

If I was going to tour, it would likely be on a Soma Saga.