Originally Posted by Eric F

That's a nice bike. All bikes are a compromise. You're just choosing a different set of compromises. Throw on a set of fast-rolling MTB tires (Schwalbe Thunder Burt, for example), and it will do moderately well on the road, limited by gearing. Of course, this will sacrifice a bit of its off-road grip compared to a larger-knobbed tire.

Personally, I didn't care for the twist-grip suspension lockout when I had it on my hardtail. I found that I much prefer a lever. That said, the twist-grip might work out great for you.