Is a Pi2 with Ubuntu an adequate web surfing, email, and light word processing machine?
Considering that I use a Pi2 as Plex Media Server and media management, I would have to say that surfing, e-mail, and word processing would be zero problems for it.
Pi2 can even be used as a media center
http://lifehacker.com/5929913/build-a-xbmc-media-center-with-a-35-raspberry-pi