Im 6ft and had a medium Spesh big hit as my first DHesque bike. I always have large bikes but a friend advised a medium would be better for learning to ride DH tracks and he was right. I now have a Large Banshee Legend, its alot more physical getting it round slow corners but when its steeper and or faster the longer size really helps but it takes more manhandling to get the most out of it. FWIW the toptube on my heckler is an inch shorter but its not really comparable.
Id say the small frame 400mm reach is too small, a few friends have had too small Dh frames and there knees have been banging stems as youre over the front & standing up alot more than youd think, being 6ft and riding a small frame doesnt make sense.