The "do everything" tank - Surly LHT

Shimano Deore, best bang-for-buck in shifting (if you plan on running a MTB block)

Thinking out of the box here, would a mixed Deore and Sora/105 set work? I.e. 10 speed brifters, with a long cage MTB mech and cassette?

Avoid mini vs is you want to use that clearance. Get proper Vs. You could get a disc trucker fork? I'd make it a tourer/camping bike. Any 110bcd double chainset and mtb mech will be peachy (I hate the q factor of mtb chainsets).

A mate rides megamiles on one of these with indexed DT shifters. It's actually changed his riding style, he doesn't change gear much and cadence is sometimes pretty low (much like riding fixed actually). I'm riding with DT shifters this winter and I can feel the same happening!
I agree on the Q factor side... about the cadence though, isn't that a bad thing?