...while I prefer the 85 on a fullframe, it's a very weak and awkward focal length on a crop body. Good for sitdown formal portraits, not much else, and as your one fast prime (think of it as f2.8/ maybe f2.2, regardless of sharpness, DOF is almost always too thin an wider apertures), you want a good allround focal length.
I agree with much of what you stated, but I've got to disagree with characterizing 85mm on APS-C as 'a very weak and awkward focal length on a crop body'. That's the same as saying that 135mm on FF is 'weak and awkward' yet the 135L is one of Canon's classic portrait lenses, that also works great for sports with the fast f/2 aperture.
Here are a few examples of that focal length. The first two are 85mm on APS-C (starting with the 85/1.8, then I moved to the 85L II), the last one with the 135L on FF - I liked the 85mm focal length on APS-C well enough to replicate it by getting the 135L after getting the 5DII.

Rebel T1i, EF 85mm f/1.8 USM, 1/2000 s, f/1.8, ISO 100

EOS 7D, EF 85mm f/1.2
L II USM, 1/2000 s, f/1.6, ISO 100

EOS 5D Mark II, EF 135mm f/2
L USM, 1/1600 s, f/2.2, ISO 100