My El Mariachi was sold new with a rigid fork. I refer to it as my flat bar gravel / fire road bike more than a mountain bike. Whether a rigid fork would work for you really depends on the terrain you ride, and ability to absorb vibrations. Typically, steel is a bit more forgiving than carbon fiber.

A rigid fork offers something different and I like it, but I don't take it on the rougher trails that my suspension bike gets ridden on.