For best quality and ride comfort I would look at Workcycles and Azor. Also, none of the bicycles you've listed are 'Dutch Geometry'. All of them require you to lean forward which is inefficient and uncomfortable for anything below about 18 MPH.
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Originally Posted by
Leisesturm
Is that round-trip or one way? A short commute is <10 mi. r/t. Anything longer is a moderate commute and IMO would benefit from more than 7sp. I'm shopping for a commuter myself for a 30mi r/t 3x/wk. It will either be a factory OEM e-bike or an e-assist kit added to (short list):
Raleigh Redux 1;
Salsa Journeyman 650;
Breezer Midtown 1.5. I've set up many a flat-bar hybrid bike with the usual commuting amenities (Planet Bike Rack/Fenders/Lights or Bontrager Rack/Fenders/Lights) and buying them myself is better than getting a factory specific commute bike for twice the price with ho-hum parts.
The number of speeds has nothing to do with distance but terrain and cargo load. 40 mile rides on fairly flat terrain on 3-speed upright bicycles is not unusual outside of the U.S. I've done that myself and would not have benefited much from additional gears. OTOH, a 2 mile commute with a significant hill will benefit greatly from additional gears.