I chose the LHT for the following reasons:
- Better complete bike spec for my needs with triple crank, wider range cassette, wider rims, and 36H spoked wheels.
- It will never be a ss/fixed-gear, so I'd rather have the vertical dropouts.
- The longer chainstays, since I have size 14 feet, to prevent heel strike with panniers.
Other little pluses:
- Pump peg
- 3rd water bottle mount
- fork rack mounts
I am also toying with the idea of doing some touring, but others have said the cross-check is quite capable of touring as well.