Yeah, 'bents are confusing. As you said, there are just so many types. Long/short wheelbase, high/low racers, tourers, racers, even a tandem where the stoker rides backward, called, unsurprisingly, a Janus tandem. And then there are the trikes...

Choosing just the right one can induce a serious case of head-spin.

My process was to read as many reviews as I could, watching for such code phrases as "twitchy steering" or "not for smaller riders," you get the idea. I pretty much discarded the idea of a high BB bike, but that's just me. I don't like riding down the road with my feet that high - I'd keep expecting someone to say "Push Honey" and then I'd be a mother again. {shudder} Sometimes the thing that was praised to the skies was the reason I didn't want the bike.

The standard advice is to ride as many as you can. So yes, you do test drive them all. This can present logistical difficulties, however.

I didn't test drive them all. As soon as I got on William I had this sense of rightness. The bike just fit. It was very much like falling in love. Of course, he was whispering promises of long tours in lovely weather through beautiful countryside. (long tour - check. lovely weather - not yet. beautiful country - check.) I didn't need more test rides.

DH just wanted one just like mine, but red. I think he should have test ridden more, but, well, it's his bike, if he's happy, so am I.

People are doing ultra long distances on 'bents. I've heard of a few on the PBP. RAAM had two teams last year and might have a team or two and at least one soloist this year. The bikes they do those on tend to have ~racer in their names and tend to be very expensive, FWIW.