The main thing the crosscheck or the LHT has going for it is that you can get the whole frameset for <$500. Then you have a lot of money left over to do a custome build to your exact specifications. For example, on mine I have a cheap Alex DA22 rim on the front, but a handbuilt Mavic T520 on the back. Why? Because I know that with a load and my 215lb butt, I'd break spokes on just about any machine back wheel but I've almost never had to even true a front wheel in almost 10000 miles.

I also have a 48-36-26 old school mtb crankset with a tight road gearing on the back because that fits my riding style the best. Most stock touring bikes have wide range cassettes which just doesn't fit my perfectly flat commute.

The nice thing about the LHT is that you can put a front rack on it which will ultimately improve handing by giving you a better center of gravity.