For a more techincal XC course, the Trance could be a superior choice to the NRS. Depends what you're looking for, though. Some riders will always opt for a Hardtail, which IMHO is the NRS's main competition.
They're relatively new bikes, but the Maestro suspension is a close copy (I'd go so far as to call it a knock-off) of the dw-link suspension found on IH, Indy Fab & BMC full-suspension bikes. Look up some MTBR reviews of the Hollowpoint to get a feel for its ability.
I owned an NRS for about a year and found it to be about equivalent to my 29"er suspension post-equipped hardtail. Great for a smoother XC course, but than again, so is a race-weight hardtail.
The dw-link and Maestro suspensions, on the other hand, manage to achieve excellent climbing characteristics while remaining active and responsive to all terrain big and small.