My friend with the $500 budget will probably get the Cannondale Catalyst 2 (2016). He put down a refundable deposit to bring in a Medium from another store location. The Catalyst 2 is on sale for $450 instead of $585. (today is the last day of the sale). It's the only sub-$500 deal we saw that get's him into hydraulic disk brakes, but of course at that price range he will be getting coil spring forks.

Cannondale Catalyst 2 - Bike America - South Florida's Premier Bike Shops

It will come in on Monday, so I'll know what he thinks next week.