Personally I believe alot of the supposed drawbacks to 29ers can be designed around, standover/BB height, stay lengths (although with longer travel bouncers you have to avoid wheel clashes?), COG, etc are surely just a case of applying your brain to the geometry and trying to replecate an “equivalent to 26er” rider position in most cases…
The reason 29ers were seen as bikes for Giants early on is that I’m sure the earlier attempts were just scaled up 26ers which will obviously suit a 6’7″ rider, the 29er converts are on the case and keen to make the big wheels work for as many people as possible, once a 4’10” female can fell comfortable on a 29er I think the argument will be over….
I think like many the first 29er I’m likely to own though will still be an SS though I’ve come close to dipping my toe a couple of times now but resisted on cost grounds, but I reckon by next winter I’ll have one “Just to try”…
I think a 69er DH bike has alot of potential, but it comes down to execution, a bike which can reduce rider fatigue (especially in the arms) would sell, and the concept would be “Backwards compatible with current DH frames (just a new fork and front wheel right?)…