I'm also new to commuting by bike... I'm sick of sitting in traffic for over an hour to get 9 miles from/to home/work.

Budget is 'under $2,000' for everything (helmet, lights, extra tubes, hand pump, fenders, etc).
Commute will be 9-10 miles. Hills are very small. Going to work I'll only gain 350ft over 10 miles (according to www.bikemetro.com).
In general I need a reliable bike... so I don't want 'cheap crap'. I understand things break, but I'd rather not have to deal with things always being broken. I'd also like the Bike to last a long time (5 years).
I'll be riding in the Los Angeles area; specifically Monrovia(home) to Pasadena(work). I think once in awile I might stay late... so I'll be riding the bike at night as well.

I went to REI (2 blocks from my house) and was looking at the Big Buzz.

There is another bike shop around the corner... But they are not open as late as REI. All the REI guys in the Bike department commute by bike. Several over 15 miles each way.

Anyone care to share some other idea's? anything that I might need to tweak on this bike?

Is the lifetime warentee on the frame really a bid deal (the REI guys thought so...)?

Thanks for any suggestions.