The difference in frames between QBP and Trek is that Trek puts a lot of money into R&D to fine tune their geometry and their tube shapes, while QBP, and especially Surly, rarely changes their geometry and uses fairly standard steel tubing. Of course, this hardly applies at all to the CrossRip, since it isn't one of Trek's cutting edge products and doesn't use their top-of-the-line materials. It does have internal cable routing, which is kind of cool but can also be a pain come maintenance time. And, it must be said, the use of standard 4130 steel tubing is one of the things that makes Surly frames so dependable.

A lot of local shops feature Surly and other QBP brands, so I don't know that after the sale service is necessarily lacking.