I think it is more appropriate to define AM as what it is not....rather than what it is.....

to me AM is....

-XC but not entirely. specially not the racing or high speed oriented. and in AM i definitely would want to stay away from signature XC 73/71 Geometry...I like the 69 head tube angle a lot...

- AM bike should be able to take a 100-130 fork and have a smooth handling capabilities. Not as twitchy as pure XC but not as slow as some of the other disciplines...

- AM frames should be burly enough to take more abuse than a pure XC bike but not stiff and heavy as like FR/Down hill bikes..

- AM set up should climb well (may be not as efficiently as an XC bike) and be stayable on the downhill sections. I strongly disagree with the implication that XC is devoid of down hills...but the fact that pure XC bikes are not as stayable and fun on rough downhill segments

I know AM is more fuzzy and confusing than any other riding style in Mountain Biking....but I am too lazy and fat to be able to confirm to any of the well defined riding styles...

now back to the bikes...

I have recently ridden a Kona Dawg....really liked the feel of the bike and the geometry...would any of these frame ride similar to that.....I guess a more appropriate question would be which one of these frames would have a similar riding quality as the Kona Dawg......if any...

thanks...