I've been commuting on bikes with IGH for 15 years, and find this type of hub pretty much ideally suited to the task. Especially on 20" wheels, where the chain doesn't get too close to the road. I have two 8-speed hubs, which can be swapped without any readjustment. Maintenance is simple: a once-a-year dip of the gear cluster in gear oil. I've also got a commuter bike with an Alfine 11, which has all the benefits of the 8-speed, plus even easier maintenance: an oil change every 700 miles or so... the wheel doesn't even have to come off the bike.
I've also done Centuries on 8- and 11-speed IGHs, so they're not just for commuting!
Steve