I have several Surly bikes, and I don't appear to be in the minority of Surly owners that have more that one. For me it's always been about the build. I like to tinker with stuff. I always have. It's how I learn about things that interest me. I buy the Surly frames not because of any cult, but because they are affordable. I know that's a relative term that depends greatly on your income level, but the fact of the matter is I don't spend so much on the frames that I obsess over them. I use frame saver on all of them and then I ride them. Rain, or shine it doesn't matter. Over the last 4 years my Surly bike have rolled up over 12,000 miles, and are still going strong.