Ah yes, the plea for our feet on the ground. I'll sing the chorus with you.

I can live with just having the front part of one foot on the ground while still seated on the saddle. That's where I'm drawing the line. Otherwise, I'm miserable and unsteady.

As for hefting your bike around, it does get easier....especially when I discovered I'd left a five pound book in the pannier and tried to lift it onto the bus rack for days without knowing. Lifting the 30 pound (loaded down versions) bike several times a day has done wonders for my upper body strength.