Fast touring bike / Roadbike with touring capabilities
The Surly Pacer is a good choice. My first real bike was a one, and I used it for commuting, training rides, and a two-week tour in Europe. Even though it wasn't "ideal" for training rides or touring, it worked great for me until I was able to afford more specialized bikes. The Pacer doesn't come with as many rack bosses as you'll want (one advantage of the cross-check), but p-clamps did the trick for me.

That said, about your individual concerns:


bar-end shifters are great for touring bikes

they are perfectly fine for traffic, you get used to them faster than you think
they are waaaay less prone to malfunctioning, which brifters are legendary for

30lb isn't really that big a deal for a do-everything bike

the extra 5lb is nothing compared to the weight of the rider and touring equipment
steel is probably the best choice for this type of bike regardless
it's easier / cheaper to upgrade the engine instead of the bike :)