Hey Cs1,
I could be wrong about this, but I think the budget models are still there. When I went down to the LBS to get my Escape 3 serviced the manager said that Giant was back ordering his next shipment of 2013 Escapes. I don't know about the Escape 1, but the 2 and 3 are still on his floor. The RX is a different animal and based on the Rapid, from what he said. I'd love to try out an RX, by the way.
Also, Escape is the top-selling Giant model, according to this dealer and a Giant factory owned dealer I visited a month ago in Boston.
Good luck to you.
Fred