We've probably jumped at some conclusions. The orig. poster didn't say anything about age, fitness, budget, or type of touring planned.

The gearing is actually lower than what many 'old school' touring bikes were fitted with. I've plenty of miles of loaded for camping touring on the old half-step+granny - 47/52 with a 34 or 36 'granny' - on a 13-27 freewheel. But that was in my mid-30's, I wouldn't want to do that now. Our orig poster may well be a youngster and that 30-50 crankset would be fine.

There are lots of 10sp chain/cassettes running on tandems - with 2x the power and more weight than a touring bike to pull over the same hills we do, if there were really major issues, they'd be pretty obvious by now.

'Has anyone actually see this bike?'
I'm riding the '07 equivalent - for awhile I ran 28 mm tires on it and the ride smoothness was virtually the same as my 531 tubed Trek touring 720. The Cannondale has no bottom bracket flex, no steering flex in the front forks when loaded, making it a very stable and comfortable ride. I'd buy it again.