just checking before i make another mech purchasing blunder:

* a shimano shadow mech fits straight onto a normal mech hanger doesn’t it?
i.e. it doesn’t require any special method of fitting it like a saint mech does?

just out of curiousity what extras would i need to go for a saint mech?
I’m quite keen to get a short cage, but i gather the saint short cage is ULTRA short, and only for single rings – so is the saint long cage long as in really long, or long as in just slightly longer than the short, i.e. medium? setup is cove hustler frame/hope pro2 hub with normal QR skewer/12-28 cassette/22-36 chainrings.

in other words i really like the look of saint, but don’t want to go overly long cage, or spend a lot on changing or adding bits – e.g. new hub equals a lot – some little adapter for 2 quid doesn’t count as a lot.

any other opinions on reasons why I should/shouldn’t go for a shadow or saint mech gratefully received.

Yes a Shadow mech goes straight onto the frame. If you bought a current Saint mech then this also fits straight onto the frame. It was only the previous generation that you needed a specific hub / mech combination.