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It's impressive for sure and everyone I've talked to who has actual hands on experience seems to be thrilled with them. Actually kinda crazy how xenophobic people have been with these brakes the second they hear 'China' Wait till they find out where 90% of bike parts are made. Getting CNC'd brakes with apparently great performance at the current price point is a huge win for the consumer. I'm not paying Trickstuff money and I'm more than happy to try these since they cost less than my DH-R Evos

The short answer to the question is yes, you could toss a 170 air spring in a 36, but I'd think the compliance and control that many (myself included) like about the 36 chassis might pass a tipping point where it becomes too flexy at 170mm. I haven't tried this setup to know for sure, but I even find a 160mm 36 starts to feel vague when you're really moving. It's definitely a toss up. Since you're a lighter rider, you might not have a problem overriding the fork. I'd just think about how you ride, and if it feels...

The larger bushing area and tube diameter of the 38 reduces friction, especially under load which everyone benefits from. The air spring is also more optimised for things like less pressure build up in the lowers from the twin tube air spring while retaining a large negative chamber. The 36 platform needed to extend the lowers and stanchion tubes to increase the neg chamber in the latest generation. Personally I don't see the point of going for a 36 at 170mm, I think the visual difference will make people think it feels "lighter" in the front end but I can't...

should i post the new fox dampers again? since no one seems to have seen it before fox pulled some strings to get it removed.

Which shifter levers have the lightest feel?

This is well written, well thought out, and I appreciate the sentiment. I have friends that backcountry snowmobile, and those that back country ski (I dabble in both when given the opportunity) I remember quite distinctly when snowmobiles became wildly more capapble at accessing backcountry peaks only accessible by massive effort (skinning up) or massive money (heli drop) the advancements in track length, lug depth, and sheer reliable displacement made for a big change in that landscape. Several backcountry heli companies never recovered from that