Hi there. I'm new to the forums and am about to buy a new bike from the LBS in the next couple weeks, and have a couple questions.

The bike shop sells Trek bikes and after doing some research I'm considering a DS 8.3, FX 7.3, Verve 3 or Marlin 6.

First question: It seems like disc breaks are more effective(?), but are they a maintenance hassle. I'd be fine with traditional rim breaks if the disc ones are a pain. Or are mechanical/hydraulic disc breaks different in this area?

Second question: I've read some people say that entry level shock absorbing forks are pretty worthless. If that's the case, maybe better to get rigid forks and save the weight? Replace the standard FX tires with a little more robust ones to absorb a little more shock?

I will be riding on streets and sidewalks mostly, but don't want a full blown road bike because of broken pavement, curbs, the occasional tree root, etc. Would also like a some versatility in case I ever ride on some unpaved trails. This probably makes a MTB way overkill.

Anyway, I appreciate any advice you guys can give me.