Specific is always good round here. Nice change if anything.

Any reason you wouldn't put knobbies on the cobia? Seems like a waste of a decent fork.
Speaking of which, I dunno about that suntour thing... Maybe.. Possibly... mmm.
Looks like it's there to allow a better drivetrain/component spec vs the better fork and lower spec on the cobia.

Having ridden neither bike, I'd probably go for the cobia and upgrade a coupla bits when/if needed..
As for the weight difference, I'd be shocked if they were noticeably different on the move.

But that's me.