The Monkey is an exellent pick for building up a custom commute/utility machine. It's frankenstienable in so many mad ways...
One of these days I'm gonna get my hands - and my toolbox and hippie genius - on one. Crossbike built on a Monkey frame? Why not. Dress it as a racer and ride circles around Lance wannabes? Hell yeah! Slap fat knobbies on and rule weekend warriors? *****in'!
I can't think of anything the Monkey can't do.