The "do everything" tank - Surly LHT

Anyone use bar end shifters? Never used them, so troubling to see the obvious benefits if you're gonna be spending most of the time in the hoods.

1x10 sounds OK, but I'd like a bigger range I think (?)

Stick with 8 speed, you'll still get the same range, just a bigger jump between each cog, plus with 8 speed, everything's very cheap and obtainable (£5 chain, £15 cassette, etc.), they'll also last for a long time as the chain tend to be stronger (read: fatter).

Get a 2x10 groupset instead, get a cheap Tiagra compact double with 105 BB, if you plan on touring in future, just get a double now rather than a single and end up changing it in future.

bar-end shifters is much more direct than STi, you don't need high end component to have that crisp gear change, basic Deore/Claris would be fine, I concur with this;

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

Wheel's easy, no less than 32h, double walled double eyelet will last you eons, like a Rigida Sputnik or a Mavic A319, latter is recommended.