The bike seems nice and all those cage mounts make sense for a long range tourist adventurer type. Hot weather can sap you and water isn't always available. Definitely not a commuter bike necessarily but you can use any bike for the typical short commute.

Don't forget, QBP owns Salsa and Surly brands and they are both made in the Orient soooo............there is very little difference in the quality. Kind of the like the difference between a Chevy and a GMC truck.