I suppose you could run a flat bar cross bike with an Alfine hub.

*awaits Mikes screams at the mention of flat bar cross bike*

Did you see the SS steel flat bar cross bike?  How many niches is Toby trying to hit with that one?

If I was looking for a complete XC biek I would definatly look at the Alfine hubbed one.

Whats the score with those hubs, send them off once or  twice a year for an oil change a la Rohloff? 

You don't have to send Rohloffs away for oil changes.

Dunno what the maintenance schedule for the Alfine is like, but given that you can replace all the guts for not much more than the price of a decent cassette and chain I'd be tempted to just use it until it fell apart, which would probably take a while  

I'd be interested to use one in that case.....

Any more test days Mike    ?