Anyhow, don't get me wrong: I'd take one of these if someone wants to buy me one, but the price-tag is more than I really want to shell out for just a frame.

Perhaps if it was my only bike, but buying other lower cost alternatives means I get to have three mountain bikes.

The fact that we are on here at all is a cool enough thing. Think about it. Most of tyhe worlds population does not have the luxury time or money to own a bicycle to ride purely for pleasure, let alone more than one, or one costing what even a budget built SB66 would run.