thanks for the replies. good points all around. personally, i've had enough experience with cheap bikes (usually picked up off craigslist) that i'm always willing to save up until i've got enough to ensure i'm getting a quality frame and parts, and i love wrenching on my own bikes as a sort of therapy, so bd isn't really for me.

thanks again, and if anybody was interested, i'm going with a surly steamroller. always a fan of surlys, but last years brown just wasn't doing it for me. but the new one, when i saw that creamy white in person... hoo boy, did i ever get excited.