The real problem here is the price range. You get a much better bike for $500 if you look in the local classifieds and take your time. If you need something right now, spend $900 for acceptable level components.

I got my Cannondale Quick CX 3 for $500 used. Purchased at the end of 2018, it was a 2014 model with about 4k miles on it (judging from the completely worn-to-the threads tires, and the rear cassette that was in need of replacement). I put a little into replacing the rear cassette, the chain, and the pedals. And now it is a great bike for commuting, riding around with my kids, grocery-getting, and even as a loaner to my brother when he wants to join me on my road rides. I've put 32mm slick tires on it. For your purposes you would want to opt for 38mm - 42mm with a little tread pattern on them.

New, a Cannondale Quick 3 or Quick CX 3 is in the $900-$1000 range, It think. These bikes accept racks and fenders if you're so inclined. They're very versatile hybrids.

Don't get hung up on brand though. Get a decent frame, and the best components you can afford. A good enough frame Cannondale, or a good enough frame Trek is so close to the same bike if they have the same Shimano components and similar geometry.

I do question whether a hybrid is the best choice for newcomers to cycling though. People get too hung up on getting a bike that solves all their use cases. And yet you will quickly find that you use the bike 95% of the time for one kind of riding, and 5% for another kind of riding. So get the bike that meets your 95% needs, and that is a little more specialized toward that need.

My hybrid is actually my #2 bike. #1 is my road bike. It gets the fun and high mileage rides. It was only after I identified that I needed more of a commuter / casual ride bike that I added a hybrid. Everyone's balance of needs is different. For me it is Endurance Road > Hybrid > Mountain. For someone else it would be Mountain first, and they may never need something for on-road. Someone else may put all their miles into a touring bike, and have a BMX for goofing around near home. But do-everything bikes often embody too many compromises to fit all the presumed use cases well. A long time ago my only bike was a hybrid. I got sick of that after a couple years and went to just a road bike. It took ten years to get sick of only having a road bike, at which point I added a hybrid back into the mix.