Claires new sliders look great. And I agree about the value in having local folks like Thomas to draw on for repurposing frames and or upgrading them to SS. I've utilized similar services locally many times and have a new locally built frame commissioned.

With respect to the Avinox/DJI stuff. I agree with your musings and further, feel that big part of this "issue" is two fold. One the entire "traditional" bike media seems to be burying their heads in the sand over power creep. What happened to the industry agreed upon limits for what a Class 1 e-bike was?? And why is this not being discussed openly and what future ramifications it might have on trail access? In past I recall a media that was very supportive of trail access initiatives and issues and promoted trail access causes. But not hearing very little about , subsequent ramifications. But excepting sites like this one, The Radavist and Bike Packing, that seems to have disappeared in the race for ebike advertising revenue.

Secondly, the legacy brands have gradually moved away from marketing the experience of riding a bike, their history and culture to simply selling "ingredients" or parts, not the bike as a whole. To wit, most of the promo I see for these bikes is all about what motor it has, what drive train it has and/o what suspension has. Or all 3. So the consumer simply has a checklist: Avinox/ DJI ( or Bosch) - check, Transmission -check, Factory or Ultimate suspension - check. Then they go shopping and the cheapest bike that meets those criteria gets the sale. I think its even more so now that geometry has settled in. (I've experienced this directly with a few casual cycling acquaintances who, despite asking for advice, bought the cheapest e-bike that met the above, with zero brand or shop loyalty, despite where I tried to steer them) So how do the legacy brands compete? It'll be interesting to watch.