I think it all comes down to what your priorities are. A ten mile ride is plenty long enough to notice a tire that feels sluggish. It's probably even long enough for a sluggish tire to induce a bit of extra fatigue if you try to maintain the same pace you would with supple tires. It's definitely long enough for a tire with poor puncture protection to be exposed as a problem. It's not long enough for even the worst of tires to make much of a difference in total time, aside from psychological effects.
My commute is ten miles each way, and my highest priority is enjoying the ride. That means I want (1) a tire with enough puncture protection to avoid becoming a nuisance regularly, (2) a tire that provides a decent cushion from road buzz and pavement irregularities, and (3) a tire that rolls well.