On that trip, I had two days of riding into 25-30 mph winds in the Florida Keys, and was glad to have a minimal profile. The bike handled surprisingly well. Everything was very secure with little to no movement, giving very predictable cornering and great stability. I anticipated having the weight up high would have an adverse effect, but it didn't. Considering the bulk of the rider's weight is even higher, I guess it makes sense. As set up, that is fully loaded touring, including a 2-person tent, cooking stuff, sleeping bag, clothes, etc. Keeping the weight down by not using racks and panniers worked out great. But I agree, if you are carrying a laptop, winter layers and other stuff for commuting, probably too limited in capacity for most, including me.