“I think I’m missing my hardtail. Or at least, the feel of a hardtail. Can’t quite make the five feel ‘lively’ enough.”
That sounds about right for a 5 imo. But I’m surprised you didnt pick up on that when you test rode one ???!
Some thing like a SC Superlight or Giant Anthem gives you the benefit of suspension whilst still mainting hardtail qualities … again IMO I went for an Anthem X and love it and to be fair 98% of the time I think it can do anything the 5 can, but blows the 5 away in techy singletrack and climbing.
Why not buy a 2011 Anthem X5 for £899, which gets you a complete bike, and then sell all the bits to help make up what you loose on the 5?