I plead guilty.
Since we had our second baby I haven't used my hybrid much.
The reason for this is mainly that we don't ride with the whole family anymore but will start again this summer when he's older.
Another reason is that I've been doing weekly sunday training rides with my tri club and I use my tri bike for that.
My wife bought a second hand bike-tow-bar-system to pull our oldest son while he rides his bike and that will definately have to happen with my hybrid.

I understand the importance of correct cycling clothing, particularly for rides over 10 miles. Learned my lesson fast and got a couple pairs of MTB shorts, rear end discomfort solved!

In my area its a "fashion show" with cyclists trying to have the coolest jerseys and shorts and most expensive carbon road bike which I think is a little annoying.

You are quite right re. "fashion show" (clothing, shoes, bike) - certainly not uncommon. What I don't understand is why one would find that annoying? Amusing, perhaps, but annoying?

The heck you do! I've done 80 on a 15 year old worn out Mongoose Switchback. And that was road and trail. So almost ANYTHING would be a better choice but it's very doable.

Love my Cannondale H600, I've put trekking bars on it and use it for most everything, in spite of the growing number of uberroadies in my area. The derailleurs on some of those bikes are so loud, it makes you want to yell "Fish on!" as they go by.