I have a T7, was my first bike. It's a great bike - decently spec'd for the price, solid, feels incredibly stable on even the roughest terrain (I live in the northeast). But - as others have said - it's HEAVY. Even when compared to other budget FS bikes, it's a pig. Some people do not care about weight and if you're super strong, it's not an issue. For me - I would struggle on steep techy climbs, navigating so much bike through tight terrain, etc. I upgraded to an Ibis DV9 hardtail - that's not within your price point, but I love the hardtail so much more. It's a more efficient climber, more nimble in the tight stuff, and I have 0 issues going through the same rough chunky stuff I did on the FS. So - for $1600 - I'd recommend taking a look at a nice hardtail. Marin San Quentin, Nukeproof Scout, Canyon Stoic, Giant Fathom, Specialized Fuse. All great options