N+1..foo... lol
Ed, I always buy at my local bike shop in Maffra, (make sure prices are competitive), and enjoy his expert ability to maintain any little things that need tweaking.
He can do in 10 minutes things that I'd probably never get just right, especially in gear selection, spoke maintenance, rim truing, bearings & similiar. Never charges much $$ and does it right !! Never hesitate to recommend that business to friends and acquaintances, speaks for itself.
Re the brand Ed, a lot of the frames in a given price range and fit out probably aren't all that different re the service they will give a new owner. When we bought the couple of new FELT 29ers recently we looked around at other shops in Sale, 3 or 4 bike brands to get an idea what was about and went back the usual LBS & bought them round $920ea with a few bits and pieces thrown into the deal.
Hard decision but unless a brand is getting sh*te canned big time it should be OK for you.
Mention by D4D re tyre grip, I'm loving the grip of the 29er tyres, those big diameters certainly have a long grip surface and are good in other ways as well, as prev. mentioned. (Not a full on quick/hard rider by any means, just getting fit !)