Wow, I was the last one to comment on this thread, a year ago...
So, I commuted from my new home today, a whopping 2.97 miles. I left at the height of rush hour, which I would not have done before. As I turned onto the main road outside of my street, I noticed the cars were backed up. There was tree work up about 3/4 a mile and police were stopping the cars. I got to ride past the cars, in the shoulder for the first time. Once I get off of this road, it's through a more residential area, but with lots of cut through traffic. Right before my office, there was a crowded intersection, no shoulder and I had to stop and get in the lane. A bit annoying.
Not sure commuting this far is worth all the prep. I felt really good when I got here, though. My office is moving in June, and it will be even closer, by half a mile.