Whyte 905 has a similar spec and is discounted at [url= https://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/product/80755/Whyte_905_27_5_Inch_2017_Bike_Orange_Black_Blue_Medium?gclid=Cj0KCQjwsNfOBRCWARIsAGITapYHQ27FR1zlxDtpm1JTFcfyXKyKmAQvQyouh__jimKo7g-SQ4XN2LcaAudyEALw_wcB ]Winstanleys[/url] and other shops to £1350
I think the point here trough is trust the problem isn't that you don't like full suspension but that you aren't happy with the bike as the front feels too low. Swapping to a hardtail definitely isn't the obvious answer to me without having played with some different rose handlebars / stems - or if you have spacers above the stem, moving them under the stem.
Where are you in the uk?
You already have one of the best trail bikes for that segment and budget you can buy, I would definitely tweak what you have with bars and stem before binning it in favour of a hardtail. Save your hard earned cash.
And FS is always better than HT
My p7 has a similar geometry to the Crush and has surprised me how capable it is for xc and longer rides. Does everything well and much better than my old 100mm travel xc hardtail.
