I started on a hardtail and have two. I don’t understand the aversion to them so many people have. When I group ride people act all shocked to see a hardtail, let alone someone riding and keeping up with them. They are more than adequate for most riding that most people do. I suppose it’s that they lack the bling factor that a lot of new buyers get caught up in, and the stigma of a hardtail being ‘cheap’ or ‘for beginners’.

A new hardtail with new geo and components is way better than any 5+yr old dual suspension bike, IMO. That said, old hard tails (10yr+) with old geometry are pretty terrible and they have the same setup as a modern day gravel bike in terms of angles and WB. I think that legacy is maybe why a lot of folks assume they are terrible by default. My '22 enduro hardtail is overall a better bike than my '17 enduro 170mm bike, outside of doing black runs at bike parks or similar. My hardtail is better on the greens and blues by far, and I don’t see any need for a new enduro dual bike since I’m not doing double-blacks or hitting 20ft drops.

Weirdly enough, I get more positive attention on my old enduro bike, than I do on my newer and more capable hardtail. I guess cause it ‘looks cool’ even though it’s not as good of a bike, and my enduro HT is ‘basic’ looking.