is this a good compromise for a freeride ? or more of a big xc bike?>
Define Free ride. And it's no a big XC bike. The meta 5 is a big XC bike. More like an AM/enduro bike (enduro as in racing enduro). The furious is more a slopestyle bike and the mini DH a free ride bike. Meta 6 is in between meta 5 and miniDH/furious
HTH
If your looking specifically at the 6" genre - light freeride,am,enduro or whatever this weeks label is then other bikes to consider are:
Lappierre spicy
orange alpine 160
spesh enduro
trek remedy
If your after a `big xc bike' aka a trail bike then look into:
Orange five
lappierre zesty
chumba vf2
maybe a meta 5 if your looking brand new (read with warranty)
spesh stumpjumper
Everyone's idea of freeride varies so it's hard to see what your after from your post.