oh i have a suggestion for you friend! i have doozee of a suggestion... being a hardtail rider myself, i am more partial to the traditional rig, but i think if you're really looking to upgrade i would suggest the santa cruz chameleon. it sounds like exact thing you are looking for. i've been hanging out on ebay for the past two months keeping track of all of them. none have been in my price range so far. also, a lower end do it all hardtail is the specialized hardrock. quallity frame on the heavy side, but a very versitle bike. i put an xt drive train on mine, a 9sp cassette, new fork, new wheel set, and new stem to make it more xc and trail worthy. it sure is ugly, but it gets the job. riding a cheap bike makes every ellsworth you pass that much sweeter. good luck with the search and happy trails!