Even though I'm almost desperate to try one of those 650b bikes, I think I might buy a Specialized Sirrus 1.0 and install a 46/30 crankset (with chainrguard) and SL-M315 shifters on it. That's partly because I already have a 700c wheelset I haven't built up yet and I still like V-brakes. Also, I suspect the Specialized Sirrus 1.0 may be one of the only bikes that can take the Atran Granny front rack.
Actually, when it comes to shifting, most of the time in the winter I would be on a 30T chainring anyway (because of snow resistance). Then if I do a shift from 40 to 60 gear inches, I could always shift back one gear to be at 53 gear inches (hypothetical situation on a Norco Indie 2 once I'm on the 46T chainring).