I personally dont think there is anything wrong with a cinder cone. As you said, if a part does let you down then you can upgrade from there.
I never had a cinder cone but took a lot of looks at it before I got my Brodie Bandit.
There will be pros and cons you will find with every bike. I think that if I have it my way, in about 2 years I will have about 4 different bikes. Depending on the day and the trail I choose to ride that day will dictate what bike I take.
I went for a ride today and met a guy that races a cannondale and his practice bike is a cinder cone. I think that shows that a cinder cone is a good bike.
I often have a conflict weather to get another tough bike like my brodie or to get a light bike like a cinder cone or something.
I think after a while a person will get use to a bike and other will be interesting but just wont feel right.
I think you will find the good points of the cinder cone and use them to your best advantage.
When I got the brodie I sometimes thought that it was more bike then I needed.
I could buy 4 Iron Horse Axions for the money I spent on the Brodie
Naaaa! The Brodie was worth it
Later in the future I still want to upgrade to a $3000 to $6000 bike and see what they are like.
I dont know, but I know that I will continue not to know if I dont try first.
You too
After a month or two I would not mind to hear what you think of the cinder cone
Happy riding