if i can bump this up, i'd like some more advice. bikinfool says go surly for the steel, which i normally relate to with road frames on schitty roads. i assumed since most mtbs you see are alum, even hardtails, that it was standard and accepted as superior. but if steel is worth the extra money, how about this option:

http://www.somafab.com/bside.html

i have an offer here to get the frame from $280, a good bit less than it usually goes for. obviously 650b puts to trash my claim that 29er wouldn't have as many parts options, ha. but i like trying experimental and "unique" things, on bike and off.

no reviews for the soma b-side that i've found anywhere. soma's reputation is about even to surly's, so for a couple hundred less, seems like maybe the way to go. what yinz say?