I’ve owned all 3 versions: HL, TNT and DW 5 Spots plus a DW Flux.
DW link has moved the performance envelope up a level right across the range i.e. a DW Flux is as capable as the older (HL/TNT) Spots, the DW Spot is as capable as the older generation RFX, and so on.
The 5 Spot has gone from being designed around a 130mm fork on HL models to 150-160mm on the current version. In that time I’ve gone from Revelation/Pike/Fox 32 to Lyriks.
The beauty of the Spot has always been its incredible versatility – you can do a lightish XC oriented build, a midweight build, or a heavy-ass bombproof build and it’s like owning a totally different bike for each.
I loved my HL Spot, but I would not go back from a DW to an HL or TNT version – no way!
Ideally I’d have both in the stable and keep the HL Spot for those nostalgic times when I wanted to ride something different!