If it helps to reduce your shame, I was a real jerk about it. Sorry for getting so worked up.

I won't say the design is perfect, and I'm sort of in the same boat in that I just changed saddles and ended up having to raise the seatmast a good 5 or more mm. I actually like the tape being there for resetting the saddle, but if I did have it off, I would have a good portion of the exposed seat tube that would be pretty scuffed up.

And yeah, a 6.2? I'm sure that cost a pretty penny, so I can understand that you would be upset for what you perceived to be just really crappy paint. But it's an awesome bike and I'm sure she enjoys it.

Happy trails.