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I just unbolt the lever from the handlebars so I don't have to remove the caliper when I do a lower service. It's less faffing around to put the lever back into the same position that realigning a caliper.

Thanks for the link. Didn't try 'body'. Thought I covered it with armor and chest. Looks like more confirmation 100% is garbage, jackets are hit or miss, and chestys like the POC are a stand out favorite. Which considering Arcon is like the successor... I guess that's the move. I do wonder how people run it when they un-buckle it (or take it off) for climbs though. Just let it hang loose while still being on the back or something extra funky like... On the bars/frame/etc.

My thoughts, having been a two bike quiver guy for a number of years now. 1) Either bike will work. What will dictate how well either the Tallboy or the 5010 climbs is going to come down to the build kit - specifically, tires and wheels. 2) Speaking of tires, there is no free lunch here. You either have tires you can smash or tires you need to be careful of line selection/how stupid you feel like being. 3) 27.5 or 29" rear wheel won't really matter either direction here (no pun intended). Either can be setup to climb well...

Personally I’d go full 29 at that travel range without question unless you are planning on mostly dirt jumping and jibbing.

It's absolutely all about how the short travel bike makes a lot of trails more FUN - the shorter travel and steeper HA combine to keep the wheelbase in check, IMO this is one of the key aspects that help these bikes carry so much more speed on anything but the steepest/gnarliest trails. Longer missions become so much more enjoyable as well, it might not feel like much when you pick the two bikes up side by side, but over the course of a long day of pedaling the reduced weight and general ease of moving around of the lighter...

If you're wanting to buy a new XC or downcountry bike, definitely do it. You'll have a blast. But first, do me a favor and borrow someone's XC or downcountry wheels with tires mounted and swap your rotors over so you can try your Nomad with faster rolling tires and your rear shock locked out. It'll blow your mind how much more fun those now-boring trails are. I just have the one long travel bike (SC Megatower, like you) and with two wheelsets I'm able to have fun anywhere. Obviously I'd rather have a dedicated short travel bike but I'm...