Surly hubs are a toss up. I've had some that have stayed smooth, and others that have become rough very quickly.

I think that it is worth it to buy a set of nice hubs that do not have cartridge bearings, that way you can just keep them well lubed yourself (I like to see what is happening in there) and overhaul the bearings when you need to. If you live in a relatively dry climate, the cartridge bearings, I think, are not the best choice. So, in short,

Best: non cartridge bearing hubs (more expensive, generally), smoother ride, are more speed-efficient
Downside: more maintenance

Second best: cartridge bearing hubs (your cheaper Surlys, Formulas, etc.), less maintenance
Downside: less speed efficient

If you don't care about these nitpicky things, then it is probably best for you just to get the cheaper cartridge bearing hubs. Get some Formulas. Stay away from the Surlys.