I bet this salesman was tall. I just visited a LBS with a short salesman. His take is that you rarely need to flatfoot straddle a bike, you would normally tilt it when stopped. I think an inch is enough, but I am 5'3" and am used to this kind of thing. For me, the reach is more of a concern than top tube clearance, as long as I have some top tube clearance.

-Sue