Yeah, I can see from the picture comparison of the Giant Escape and Defy, for example, that there's not a whole heck of lot of difference in geometry between performance hybrids and endurance road bikes. If relaxed-geometry with drop bars doesn't present a huge wind advantage over performance-hybrid flat bars, and I'm basically exploring the city instead of trekking across the U.S., then flat bars may be fine. But all other things being equal, I'll go with the most bike for the least money, and that probably means a hybrid.
