A New Bike...Part 3

My wife asked me tonight if I was getting a new bike for Christmas & my birthday (Dec. 26). Though I certainly want one, part of me feels that I haven't earned a new bike just yet. I am far from my initially stated goal of 21 habit-forming rides to work. My wife suggested that maybe a faster bike might make me ride more often. Maybe, but...
Hey, why am I even resisting this?? Well, partly because I am still undecided on what bike I want. Part of the problem is I fear that a lot of the bikes I'm considering might have to be special ordered without being able to ride the bike first. 

Here are the bikes by classification, with basic spec and price:

Cyclocross:

• Bianchi Volpe - steel frame/fork, triple crank, Shimano Tiagra/Deore ($1099)
  
• Surly Cross-Check - steel frame/fork, Shimano Tiagra ($1050)
  
• Masi Speciale CX - steel frame/fork, Shimano Tiagra/105 ($1195)
  
• Raleigh RX 1.0 - aluminum frame, carbon fork, SRAM Rival ($1425)
• Kona Jake the Snake - aluminum frame, carbon fork, Shimano 105 ($1399)
• Kona Jake - aluminum frame, steel fork, Shiman Tiagra ($899)
• Gary Fisher Lane - steel frame/fork, Shimano 2300 ($1099)
• Gary Fisher Erwin - steel frame, carbon fork, Shimano Tiagra/105 ($1429)
  

 Road Bike, rim brakes:

• Kona Honky Tonk - steel frame/fork, Shimano Sora ($899)
  
• Bianchi Imola - Reynolds steel frame, carbon fork, triple crank, Shimano Tiagra/105 ($1249)
  
• Raleigh Clubman - Reynolds steel frame/fork, Shimano Tiagra, painted fenders ($1099)
  
• Specialized Allez Steel - steel frame/fork, downtube shifters, Shimano 2300 ($610)
  
• Trek Pilot 2.0 - aluminum frame, carbon fork, Shimano Tiagra ($1149)
  
• Masi Speciale Randonneur - steel frame/fork, bar-end shifters, Shimano Tiagra/105, fenders ($1145)
  

 Road Bike, disc brakes:

• Kona Honky, Inc. - steel frame, carbon fork, Shimano 105, Avid BB7 discs ($1449)
  
• Novara Buzz Road - aluminum frame, carbon fork, Shimano Tiagra, Avid BB7 discs ($999)

Gee, that's a lot of bikes to consider...