BTW, a Surly LHT is basically a steel mountain bike frame, with drop bars and an expensive name badge...
You are mistaken. The only commonality between a LHT and most steel MTBs is that they have two wheels.
The LHT and all proper touring frames in general have the following features which distinguish them from a seemingly similar MTB frame:
1. long chainstays to accommodate bags (45-47cm vs 42.5cm)
2. low BB to lower center of gravity, whereas MTBs have high BB to clear off-road obstacles
3. many tourers have a shortened TT to provide appropriate reach for drop bars, whereas MTBs have lengthened TT for flat bars - the difference in TT length to accommodate these respective handlebar types and still fit a given bicyclist is 5-7cm
4. tourers have long headtubes to yield higher bar height and a more upright posture to provide some back/neck relief in consideration of the much longer time tourists spend on their bike each day
5. tourers typically are made from larger diameter, thicker walled tubing to support loads of up to 300 lbs (bicyclist+gear); MTBs typically are intended to support weight of rider only
6. additionally tourers have adequate frame fittings for racks, fenders, pump, even lighting, whereas MTB frames rarely have any of these fittings (at least not in the last twenty years)
Please take time to learn about touring bikes and touring frames in general before you dispense more bad advice on the forum.