While I totally admire some of the straps you all come up with, I simply can't substitute any other strap for the original. My OCD tells me not to ...even if it would make the bag so much more wearable...I'm probably going to let my 05 City go for that reason. The only City I have left ...
Your post made me laugh (in a good way because I'm OCD about many things.)
I know what you mean though, but honestly, the longer straps make the bags much more wearable.
Would never have bought a first if I couldn't do x-body. I think that bag was meant for a long strap- it just suits it so well.
As for the city I look at it this way-
if you're not a fan of wearing it on the shoulder, using a cross-body means saving the handles. Even Bal themselves came out with a longer strap for their city bags. So maybe give it a try and see if it works for you?