I am/was a loyal Specialized owner, but I was looking for a new bike and tried the all the brands
to see which I liked. I rode Trek, Specialized, Giant, etc., and finally chose a Trek. I couldn't believe it and felt like a traitor, but fact is, it fit and felt the best.
Point is, ride as many brands as you can and choose the one that fits and feels best, with customer support, price, warranty, tune-ups, etc. that make you feel good about the purchase.
Slackerprince