I have been looking at a Specialized Carve Comp that's on sale. It is more bike than I would ever need, and wouldn't need a thing aside from possibly a seat for what I plan on using it for. It already has hydraulic disks, 29'er, and a fork lockout as well. Honestly, my rear fear about going mountain biking is the fact that if I lose balance and go off the right side I am going to eat it. A problem that I really don't have riding on the road since it has such regular surfaces.
I have this beautiful set of trails five miles from my house, and it feels like such a waste not utilizing them...years ago the only thing around to MTB on were renegade spots.