Well, luv2climb you certainly gave us many examples.

I can understand if one rides with a group that tends to be fast, to want to use a bike with larger wheels.

However if it's going on trips with one other person or solo around town, even your own trip, there's no point getting overly concerned about getting a bike with bigger wheels at this time.

Take your time to get into cycling regularily, often and build up the total mileage, then you will understand your cycling nees re: type of bike.

I miss my folding bike..it's in a different city. (I have to have a bike in current city and my 2nd home city to save delivery costs of bike.) And yes, I did several 100+ km. trips each on the folding bike with loaded panniers.