Hybrid bike stolen, trying to weigh factors for how to replace
I know you say you're not comfortable buying a used bike, but…

A used bike will get you so much closer to what you say you want in a bike, and can be so much better a value for your money. Here's my pitch for a used bike:


Look for a brand name "vintage" mountain bike – one without suspension, but with tons of clearance for fenders and wide tires. If I were looking, I be hunting for something like a Trek 850 from the '90s. I think Bridgestone also made some nice bikes of similar vintage.
The wide tires will let you run wide street tires (something like a Schwalbe Big Apple) at a relatively low pressure that will give you a comfortable ride with relatively low rolling resistance.
No suspension means lower weight, complexity, and for equivalent quality lower cost. Eliminating the suspension also makes it easier to fit fenders and racks.
An old used bike will have lower perceived value, especially a steel bike with skinny tubes. Steel is nice in a used bike because it is much less likely to fail suddenly as a result of mistreatment by a former owner and it is also out of vogue which may help with the thieves.


So the big question, I think, is why not a used bike?

If it's because you don't feel qualified to check out a used bike, I can understand that. Perhaps your LBS sells used bikes, or can recommend someone who refurbishes them in your area. I'd also encourage you to consider that bikes aren't like cars. They are much closer to "what you see is what you get." If you test ride the bike and like it and all of the basic functions work – brakes, shifting, adjusting the seat and bars – then you're probably good. You could also factor in the cost of having your LBS do a tune up.