Pretty sure there are no triple cranks on those bikes. I have a 1x11 and it has the low gear I need and never runs out of high gear unless I'm on a flat road.
I think all the modern stuff shifts well. A double crank can give you more range than a single.

A rear suspension will make the rear brake work better and allow the rear wheel to maintain traction better than a hardtail, but a hardtail can certainly be flogged by a skilled rider.

I would take measurements of your bike and compare them to the geometry charts of the ones you are looking at, unless you have the chance to actually ride them. I'm kinda hard to fit and I am pretty happy with the way my bike fits, but sizing is all over the place on mountain bikes.