I'd have to think about it more. Hybrids have come-down in price.they call many of them : cross, fitness, city
recreational, now flat-bar pertains to the racier ones. In any case,it's not so much they've gone -down it's more that they have NOT gone-up,in years. I've seen a few 22 lb. flat-bars for $400,one was a Diamondback, NOT a crap brand,it rode well,it shifted really well.I almost bought it.It was black so I didn't ,the color took the wind out of my impulse buying sails. Anyway, a 26lb. similarly equipt bike,a road bike with drop-bars casts $900.It has STI shift ..OK but twice the price?. Trends cost alot.12 years ago, a Giant Hybrid, a good one cost $480. A compararble road bike cost $590, what gives ? Look at the price of mountain bikes, the prices you'll see,speak for themselves, the hard-tails,not suspension models.