I have a hybrid and a road bike.
If someone forced me to only have one bike for the rest of my life out of the 2 bike styles, I would choose hybrid. Its just more fun to me where I ride.
I live in one of the biggest cities in the States and often go from sidewalk to jumping a curb to back to the busy road.
A hybrid is more nimble due to the higher and wider bar and being more upright. It fun for crowded urban areas. I simply bought my road bike to get some variety, I don't think I will go any faster than my hybrid. The drop position is pretty cool, I pretend I'm going faster than I really am in the position.
After a week on the Defy, I feel most hybrid riders will be happier on a Synapse or Roubaix, the Defy is borderline racy geometry. The only thing holding it back is the wheelbase feels too long.