planet x used to sell the XLS with 105 for the same price, so don’t pay £999 for tiagra (in fact they had an ultegra 6800 road bike for £899 yesterday, so again don’t pay £999 for tiagra)
I have an XLS and while I like it, I wouldn’t say it’s the best carbon frame in the world, it’s a bit flexy, I don’t think the GT frame would be much heavier over the xls, and I can imagine it even feeling a bit stiffer too even though it’s alu
also the GT frame has got proper routing for the front mech, the XLS needs a pulley wheel which I found slightly problematic with my new 105 front mech, but nothing that couldn’t be solved
new 105 and hydraulic discs vs old tiagra and bb7s, no contest really
a couple of downside with the GT are you don’t get a 105 chainset (though the brilliant front shifting may be mostly down to the mech, and if so any cranks will be fine) and I think the TRP rotors are a bit gash