High praise indeed ! My longer distance/higher mileage/touring days are long gone (someday again when the little ones grow up), so the idea of the hooligan within the speed limit(ish) ability of the SMR appeals to me tbh. It's only the odd Sunday spin and a couple of days a month commuting I do now sadly....
For the Alpine passes, the Duc is the one you want alright by the sound of it (with a full Zard maybe)...