(I should make this part of my sig: full disclosure: I work for a company that sells specialized bikes)

The Globe Centrum Comp is a damn nice bike. I think it would suit your needs very well. Yes, you can install fenders and a rack on it. But, like most Specialized bikes with compact geometry it'll be a little difficult to completely accomplish. This is mostly because companies who make fenders are still designing them around traditional geometry bikes.

The 8 speed hub is an excellent choice on the part of specialized. But, if you wanted to up the ante and still appear to have a "single speed" bike, I would see if you can get a Schlumf Innovations planetary Bottom Bracket unit. That will give you the equivalent of a double up front paired w/ the 8 speed in back.

info on the schlumf internal planetary bb found here: http://www.schlumpf.ch/sd_engl.htm

enjoy!