Back to the simple, streamlined answers.
With $3000 to spend, there are hardly enough good reasons to NOT buy a full suspension bike. In other words, the 3k FS does not suck enough to choose a 3k hardtail instead.
Just my opinion, of course.
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"I tell you, We are here on earth to fart around, and don't let anybody tell you any different." - Kurt Vonnegut jr.