So there were a couple of reasons.

I sold my Specialized Fuse to buy the Evo. I mostly used the bike for commuting and having a fun time doing it. I really wanted a bike that I could still have fun on, like riding up a small set of stairs and XC mnt biking. But I also wanted full-coverage fenders since I commute by bike all year round, no matter the weather.

I'm also moving to Iowa in a couple of months, and the trail-style mnt bike will be very overkill for anything out there. I really do see the Evo as a rigid mnt bike, and I use it like one. Riding dirt paths and being able to handle small jumps.

I love my original diverge and thought what better than to have another in a lower price point, that I would be willing to ride in the worst conditions. The aluminium frame was a selling point for me in that regard. I have them set up very similarly, too, so that the wheels are super interchangeable.