Eight or Continuum Onyx for Commuting?

I'm having trouble deciding between the eight and the continuum onyx. I plan on using these bikes year round for commuting. The continuum onyx has pretty much everything I want in a commuter, like the front and rear dynamo lights as well as disc brakes and belt, but the reason I hesitate to make the purchase is because of the CVT hub. I've read many reviews about the hub making the bike feel like there's drag. My experience with CVT hubs is through bike fleets and I don't like how those bikes feel. Those bikes feel like I put so much power into peddling and receive less output from the bike than I should. The best way I can think to describe it is it's like I'm riding a stationary bike with the resistance cranked up.

I suspect those bikes probably have a lower gear ratio than most bikes for safety reasons so maybe I'm wrong in thinking the continuum onyx will feel that way, but the last thing I want to feel when biking is drag. I've noticed the eight is very similar to the continuum onyx. I even read from priority's website that it was essentially the predecessor to the continuum. Priority themselves have even stated in a video that the eight rolls faster and feel faster than their other commuter bicycles. I plan on using these bikes for not just commuting, but also grocery shopping, so I'll be loading up these bikes with cargo on the front and back. I've read that carbon is more brittle than steel and the eight has a carbon fork, so I'm wondering if it's a bad idea to use the bike for carrying load? Also, how would the carbon hold up during winter commuting?

Any advice is appreciated.