I got a Liberty CXD and have been using it for over a year now with only some slight modifications -- I replaced the pedals (they were trash) and added fenders, a rear rack, and lights. I chose that bike as a good compromise between performance and not breaking the bank too much if it got stolen.

Were I to do it over again I'd get a nicer model, because in practice I almost never lock up my bike outside anyway so the theft concerns aren't an important factor.