I have turned my old cross-country racing MTB into a commuter. It is very light, has only a front end suspension and is very responsive. It's got a fairly aggressive geometry but I like that. Then I put on thinner/slick tires and I was good to go. The reasons why I liked it 1) I never worried about potholes 2) I could jump objects if need be to stay out of traffic or even onto the curb for quick evasive moves 3) it was lighter than most commuters but one should note that it was a $3000 bike new in 1998, so quite high end.

I would recommend looking for a high end used MTB, front end suspension or rigid and making the appropriate modifications.

Having said that, I have never ridden a hybrid so I can't really compare.

I like the idea of using a cross bike as well and switching out the handle bars.