+1 to Chris F . . . it can be very much ford v chevy trucks around here.

The major OEM's make plenty good bikes, Trek, Cannondale, etc. Some prices can be high for the specs.

Cannondale is a special case in the MTB world IMHO. Their designs are very outside the box and that is always going to cause strong feelings.

The lefty MAY ride great (I do not know, I have never ridden on), but I would not buy one. I hate the looks of them. Same for all the headshock stuff. I think their frames can be very odd and ugly too. I usually like odd looking things, but canny MTB just jibe with me.
Everyone can say that looks should not matter and they might be right. But that is not reality. There is also the real side of the compatibility of their designs . . . as in you have to get adapters to put a different fork on them, etc.