Hi Serena

I don't know why the Montclair guy told you to get a more expensive bicycle. Maybe the components on the more expensive bike are a little better quality, or maybe he makes more money off it. I also don't know why some folks don't like hybrids. Different strokes for different folks, I guess.

If I were you, I'd just go to a bike shop I trust, tell them my budget, and ride everything they have that fits within that budget. Don't get too caught up in trying to figure out what's a hybrid vs. a fitness bike vs. this vs. that. Names like that are mostly marketing. You can ride any bike (with varying levels of comfort, of course) on a bike path or on other roads, even reasonably smooth dirt roads free of large debris. Something else to bear in mind when looking at different brands is that, many times, different bike companies get their frames from the same factory, so don't get too concerned about going with Trek vs. Schwinn vs. Giant vs. whoever. They're all quite similar.

As for used vs. new, I got my first road bike used for a fraction of what a new one would have cost. It lasted me a couple years before I got the bug to buy a new one. I then sold my bike to someone else, and she's still riding it 2 years later. You may be able to get more bike for your money by going used, but you also have to be a little more cautious and look for signs of damage and neglected maintenance.

Good luck!