I have no qualms about patronizing LBSs as long as I'm sharing the love. I suppose it does help that the place I like to take my bikes for work only sells special purpose bikes so unless I'm buying a recumbie or a tandem or something along those lines I'll never really buy a bike from them. I wouldn't feel too bad about seeing what other lines have to offer. Nothing says you always have to buy Specialized but you are kinda stuck if your LBS only has that line and you don't shop elsewhere. Consider branching out. Like KY said, tell them you're not going to buy anything today but definitely try a bunch of bikes.

I am a Kona owner. I tried the Jake but ended up with an '06 Kona Sutra which is their touring bike for about the price of a new Jake. I use this bike for everything, my metric centuries, my 15-mile one-way commute, rides on the crushed gravel towpath nearby. It has drops and wider tires and is everything I need. Kona's commuter is the Smoke and it looks like a beaut too!