Yeah, I've gravitated to wider tires over the years, usually a 25 in the front and a 28 in the back, which always baffles the bike store when I buy them. Just built a set of wheels with a 28 and a 32, the 32 is a pretty beefy tire!
after what I grew up on, it's interesting to see that 25/28MM tires are considered 'beefy.'
As a bike commuter, I've found over the years that comfort trumps speed over the long haul. That is, after several weeks of commuting on a Felt F-70 (which is impossible any way for hauling anything short of using a back pack...), the hard ride was more tiring. Currently I commute on a 700CM wheeled Jamis w/28's (conti Gators) but even they (at 90-100PSI0 can be jarring over a varied road surface.
650B were common Cyclo-Tourist wheels in Europe, used for day tours, working bikes, commuters. Tires of that size at 40-50PSI roll very fast and gobble up road noise. When you get to my age, absorbing road noise is a very ATTRACTIVE proposition.
I like biking because I can get out and expand my horizons (outside the cager box). I think bikers should be open to new things (although 650B is WAY older than both 700C and 27" wheels)
here is a good link:
650B wheeled bicycles info
check out the pics... I think the converted crit bikes look pretty damn cool
(they convert well because they have 700 wheels with tight brake clearances... making the brake mod easier)