Hmm..never cared much for Giant since it seemed to me the epitome of generic.

From the vintage days, I think Cannondales were cool just for their innovativeness (results notwithstanding). Steelie lugged Treks? Awesome...successful US manufacturing, something that was dying at a time when the Japanese were eating our lunch. Kudos to them...then.

Specialized? In a word association game, I quickly say "catalog." pfft. (remember their origins?)

I wouldn't have a vintage Nashbar bike just because of the weirdness, plus the catalog thing.

I learned about how the catalog companies affected the LBS's when I worked at a few.

Buy from folks, folks.