I still think it is a good concept although i have just replaced mine (well the ti framesits in my cupboard waiting to sell) with a Lynskey 29er.
This is more to do with the small frame size which is great in resorts like glentress where you can throw the bikes into things but less so for the marathon mtb races and 24hr races i have started doing ….
My carver 96er (same as 69er) is a custom ti that was set up as a 650b XC weapon but it was designed to be a 96er … takes a bit of getting used to compared to same size wheel as the larger front seems to carve a wider turning arc than the back when leaned over – but this seems to make it carve corners pretty well ….
here is a tag link to the blog http://kitesurfbikerambling.wordpress.com/tag/carver-96er/
and a gopro shot of riding glentress chasing a mate on his blur
[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=El30WKGXwUc&feature=player_embedded[/video]
and another although the bar mount slips later on
[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRyQ7Do-OXQ[/video]
and this is on racing ralph tyres / very little grip ….