dude you have no clue the 29inch wheel may not be for you but the are a butt load of people around my area that ride the 29in wheel. Personaly I think it is a great thing. I will never own one but there is a group in my area that swear by them. Hey also i ride with a few of them. the 29in wheels hold up to the bog rides that we do on mondays and wednesdays. (the bog is not actualy a bog it is just what we call it) but out in the bog there is some of the most technical riding you will ever see and these guy pushing the 29 are going strong.
The 29inch wheel is more of a personal thing, but I know for sure that this is not a gimmic and that these bikes are made to go off road with.
the only people that should not have the 29in wheel are bike beaters and huckers
but otherwise they are great xc bikes