My opinion on the touring has changed greatly, as has what seems to be the more popular opinion of buying a roadster or standard and putting bags on it over buying the touring and trying to get improved performance.
I, at my wife's urging bought the touring over the roadster I wanted. I was disappointed, greatly with the performance,everything else about the touring I loved, the handing, the comfort even 2 up, my wife loves the comfort. But understand I came from an upgraded VTX 1800, and not a sportster. You may not be disappointed at all in the gains you will get and be quite happy with the touring as it comes, and yeah the ol'girl is heavy as hell to push uphill into a parking place, but that heaviness leaves once she's moving.
I bought the 2011 touring below, came with a lot of the options that if you were going to purchase to put on the roadster or standard would in my humble opinion cost you a more then what it cost me to get what I consider to be great performance from my touring. I put about $1500 into pipes, air filters, power commander, and auto tune. I now can wheelie or burnout with the best of them.
The cost of hard bags can be that much alone.
So don't let performance sway your decision, EvilMitch I believe is getting over 150hp from his touring, I have not had mine on a dyno, but it now has the performance that I can only say I am no longer disappointed in. Something you would not get from heritage classic.
There is a lot to consider.Take one out for a test run... Your not going to know what to do with yourself going from a sportster to an R3. Good Luck!!