So I am looking at pulling the trigger on my first motorcycle, and have been mentally deadlocked for a few weeks between these three options. Comfortable enough financially to buy new, but not against buying used if a good listing appears.  
  
Let me give a bit of context:

Experience - Nothing beyond growing up riding a little Baja Motorsports 90cc mini bike. I am signed up for the MSF Basic Course in October

Size: 6ft, 32in inseam, about 220 lbs but have been steadily dropping weight aiming for 170ish (very optimistic I know), was able to flat foot the Ibex in regular shoes, balls of my feet down on the Rally, have not been able to sit on a Himalayan yet.

Planned Usage - Plan to commute to work on good weather days, about a 30 minute ride on single lane roads where the max speed limit is 55. Also plan to hit up nearby dirt, gravel, and back country roads, with the possibility of getting further into trail and motocamping as I get more familiar. I live in the US midwest, so not prime ADV country, but still plenty of good roads and trails to hit. Also, we all know whatever bike I get is going to get dropped, being new and all

  
My pros and cons:

CRF300l - lightest weight, Honda reliability, fuel economy, nostalgia because it matches the tiny Honda ATV I drove as a kid, available at a dealership just down the road, slightly intimidated by the height on the base seat, worst on highways. I know there are options like the Big Bore kit, and I'm no stranger to vehicle maintenance, but I'd rather not do that level of work, at least not right away

Himalayan - narrowly beats out the Rally in looks, tubeless tires, still very fuel efficient, better than the Rally on the highway, should be able to flat foot it, would require going to a dealership about 45 minutes away to buy new, less off road capable, especially with stock tires, heavier but manageable

Ibex - best for highway and road comfort, twin cylinder, most tech, tubeless tires standard, apparently just as capable offroad as the Himalayan, available locally, least appealing visually (but still like it), long term reliability still an open question, no cruise control (I think), heavier but manageable



My head says the Ibex (most practical commuter with still decent offroad), my heart says the Himilayan (love the look, will be at least decent for everything), and my gut says the Rally (best offroad, lightest, would be a great second bike to complement a more standard commuter bike, basically unkillable)

I appreciate any advice from people who actually know what they're talking about, since all of my knowledge is second hand at best.

First Bike Advice: CRF 300l Rally vs Himalayan 450 vs Ibex 450