Seems interest in this bike has really tapered off, but as a newish owner of a Crosstrail, I wanted to thank everyone who contributed to this thread! I bought mine used several weeks ago and loved it from the test ride. I've done what appears to be a few of the common mods - Salsa CroMoto Grande front fork, wider tires, Axiom adjustable Journey rack; seat, grips, handlebars - and absolutely love riding this bike! Use of my Vado has declined significantly, and I'm 100% ok with that.
This thread has helped a great deal in selecting the bike, tuning and maintaining it - so again, thank you all for sharing your knowledge of the Crosstrail!