Make sure to ride a 140mm hardtail before you decide – it is my considered opinion that most of the time that is too much fork for a hardtail for XC / trail centres unless you are doing big tricks, and a lighter more XC oriented setup is in fact more fun and more ridable for most people
A 140mm hard tail? At a trail centre? Are you mad? You will probably die! You need a 6″ trail bike just to attempt some of the obstacles there! 😉
Personally I ride a PA (in 853 flavour..) so am slightly biased, a mate runs a Cotic Soul which is also very nice (lighter as well). The Evil is a lovely looking bike & I’ve always wanted one, until I picked it up!
Still want one, however I don’t think it’d make a good xc bike compared to the others mentioned, as a ‘freeride’ or ‘downhill’ hardtail then yes please!