Strongly agree on the dyno lights. It's the single most expensive way to make light, but infinitely more convenient than battery lights. Nice thing is, we older guys can afford the expense, and we appreciate that life's too short to fart around with battery lights twice a day, every day. I never even have to touch the switch. Ambient light sensor turns 'em on and off for me.

My back-up commuter is a rando/audax bike, although I don't use a front bag. Also agree rando/audax bikes make good dedicated commuters. The low trail front end geometry also helps keep it controllable in gravel patches and in the rough stuff. One of my routes includes cobbles. The rando bike eats 'em up. I call it my cobble gobbler.