I either like or don't mind all of the changes EXCEPT for the alum fork. While I'm not a huge believer that frame material, in and of itself, matters that much, with respect to forks, I've ridden a lot of bikes with alum forks and always found the front ends harsh and unpleasant. And I've upgraded two bikes that came with alum forks (admittedly to carbon, not steel) and the improvement in feel was remarkable for both. So unless a test ride convinced me that Trek has found a way to make a nice-riding alum fork, I'd disqualify the bike from consideration on this feature alone.
If I were needing a bike like this and were willing to spend $1500, I'd get a Kona Sutra. Or cheap out and get a Windsor Tourist.
- Mark