Cycling is an evolutionary process. When you start, you do shorter distances, you want to ride upright, you want a large saddle, you may want a front fork with shocks. That's what I wanted when I bought my Trek Verve.
A year later, I was riding routinely 12-20 mi. and my comfort bike became ...uncomfortable! Changed the saddle (twice, a Serfas Rx and as the distances grew longer a Brook B17).
Hand numbing in longer distances led me to my drop bar, touring/endurance bike (Novara Randonee) which I enjoy immensely.
I firmly believe that had I not gone the comfort route, I wouldn't have stuck with biking. YMMV.