As long as you can leave your bike inside, then a top end touring bike will make a fine commuter. If you have to lock it up outside, then you may or may not have theft issues depending on where you live.
Personally I like rebuilding old "ten" speeds as commuters. They take a decent volume tire (700 x 32c or 27 x 1 and 1/4) and make fine lock up bikes since they are inexpensive.