Fred? From the Show Me State??
Hi neighbor!
You'll find endless debates about 29rs vs 26" on the internet but, I'm here to show you for real, buddy! You can trust me. Smile.
The advantage of a 29" (700C) wheel is that, due to the larger diameter of the wheel, the 'attack angle' between tire and obstacle is reduced. Meaning that you can roll over it more easily. Think Monster Trucks. Same principle.
Also, simple physics come into play.
Once in motion, a body with more mass tends to stay in motion . Compared to a 26" wheel, you'll expend more energy getting that big wheel up to speed but, once there, momentum kicks in and it's hard to stop a freight train. See? Now we need better brakes to slow this puppy down! More powerful braking technology tends to weigh more, but isn't always the case.
The advent of the 29" MTB by Gary Fisher back in the late 1990's created better 26" stuff, for sure!
29ers also tend to fit really tall riders a bit better.
I am 5'6" and ride a lot of technical singletrack with very tight switchbacks on steep slopes down here in Arkansas. To me, trying to negotiate a 29'r around some of those feels like driving a school bus!
By thier very nature, 29rs have a longer wheel-base. Like a school bus.
For commuting or gravel road ventures, a 29er should serve you well if you like that MTB "feel".
Wheelies don't pop themselves. (from a QBP fortune cookie)