Yes, this looks very close to my 2015 Charge Plug in style and form. (My Plug is the last year for steel, Charge went to aluminum for the 2016 Plugs).

Racks can be had for cheap, so if the Topeak rack doesn't work out, get something that will.

Fenders? I have the SKS longboards and mounted the fork crown tab back behind the fork crown to lower the rear edge even more. There is some serious toe overlap at low speeds, but underway, it is a non-issue for me.

Drivetrain swap? Maybe after the warranty expires. And it's not so ridiculous to have a better drivetrain on your non-fair weather bike, no one is thinking about that but you.

Disc Brakes? Not as great an advantage over rim brakes as I imagined, but over two years, the slightly better wet-weather braking, and slightly better modulation are nice.

Oh, and big, smooth road tires make a huge difference over any sort of knobbies if you don't ride in mud, snow or gravel. (I put studded knobbies on my other commuter for snow and ice).

Price-wise the Strada CM Comp looks like a fairly good deal...especially for steel.

Add the usual caveat about Universities and their high rates of bike theft and vandalism and you have my thoughts on the Strada CM Comp.