I've gotten rid of my hardtails and run a rigid (steel) fork on everything now. I love the weight savings and the complete lack of maintenance. Whether rigid is viable for you depends on the trails you ride, the kind of riding you do, the tires you use, and their air pressure. My hucking days are over, and I mostly ride woodsy singletrack or desert scree. Ledgy stuff can be a little jolting, but for those trails I use a 2.8" tire at about 16 psi, and it's honestly not a big deal at all. If I was still a competitive rider or lived in the Rockies I'm sure I'd make a different choice, but for me, rigid works.