Originally posted by Maelstrom
Fact of life in bikes. Things get cheaper. My gf has a 2002 Kona Stuff. She payed 1100$ (that was msrp I talked the shop down a bit). The following year they added better parts including disc brakes and dropped the price to 900$. It will make you feel better if you look at the bike industry like computers. You will never win unless you are getting bro deals 
Bikes do get cheaper supposedly. But they are very different to computers. You can easily ride any trail with a 1998 bike. But you cant play a pc-game with a 1998 computer. Personally i dont give a dime about new models, coz if i did then i should be in a constant loop of not buying anything in order to wait for next year's model. I only care about new models if i am on the lookout for something , bike/fork/component.... that said, i am happy with my 03 rockhopper and 03 Z1 fork .If i was to buy something a year earlier i would get a 02 model and so on.... its an endless conversation with no real ending. You buy what you need when you need it and you dont regret the money spent on it . If money is your concern then you should study investment theory and behavioral finance
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PS. Mael you got a very tidy and well laid homepage... i wish i could meet you and A2 someday.