And that highlights the key to picking a recumbent - try riding as many as you can. There are differences between recumbents as big as the difference between a recumbent and a regular bike. I personally like the handling of my LWB (long wheel base) Tour Easy, but then I like to ride on back roads and use it for touring - commuting in traffic it might not be ideal.

As far as visibility - technically you may be lower down and harder to see, but you get noticed by your uniqueness. Drivers often turn their heads and watch me as they pass. I'm not usually worried that they won't see me - more that they'll focus on me too much and not where they're going.

By the way, here's a website you might want to check out - lots of reviews of different 'bents (of course it's not substitute for a test ride):

http://www.bentrideronline.com