As Duke Ellington once said of music, "If it sounds good, it is good." The same goes for bikes -- if you like to ride it and it performs the required mission, it's good. As for the bike shop guy -- you typically don't ask the grocer for nutrition advice, so why ask the bike shop guy what you should ride.

I've been commuting year-round in the DC area on a 7 speed internal hub bike with a drop frame. That was 25 miles roundtrip before I moved my office closer to home. Many days, I towed a trailer and took my daughter to school or daycare on the way. Road bikes are fun for weekends, but on weekdays, I need a drop frame, fenders, chainguard, and dynamo lights for convenient, practical transportation. As they say, "Horses for courses."