Town bike quandary/upgrade/alternative (e-bike?)

For a couple of years I’ve been using my Fortitude Adventure as my town/gym/shopping bike.

It’s set up with an 8 speed Alfine, rack, Ortlieb panniers, mud guards, USE Shockpost etc and I have a dynamo wheel to try but haven’t got a light yet (I currently use my Exposure lights and remove them when the bike is left).

It’s a good bike, but when loaded up it’s a real dog. Sluggish, unbalanced*, and it’s just not very fun. Add in the additional weight of a lock and it’s a heck of a workout.

I’m toying with the idea of ditching the Alfine and going 1x9/10/11 to loose a bit of bike weight and add in a couple more gears but I’m not sure that some of the unbalancedness doesn’t come from the frame. It’s a fairly lightweight slender frame, and the same as the SS and Race (albeit with a hanger) so whilst branded “Adventure” I’m not sure it’s all that sturdy**.

So do I swap out the Alfine and give that a bash, try another frame orrrrrrr possibly an e-bike?

If you have a similar set up, what are you using? Photos always appreciated 😄

* back in the summer I was wheeling the bike through town with it’s panniers full. Heading down a pedestrianised street that’s on a hill I wasn’t paying full attention and the bike wheelied and the front wheel hit a lady in the chest! Not my finest moment!!

** In normal trim it’s a lovely bike to ride.