Poppa, yeah, Recon gets Motion Control but only Solo air in the best models. Although just plucking stats out of the air, I'd wager 9/10 RS riders with dual air can't set up a solo air properly, let alone a dual air. The Recon is really underrated IMO as the higher models are great.
The Orange finishing kit is every bit as light and well built as the entry level Easton/Race Face stuff that people "upgrade" to.
My personal setup tips for the Five is sensible chunky rubber, a hardhitting stiff frameset isn't going to shine with nervous rubber, so work to it's strengths. I also run the shock quite soft (30%, not 20-25%) but also the rebound fairly slow too – propedal will prop it up if I need it but I have got the stiffer tune of the '08 model (and only use it for climbing while standing). It takes a little bit of pop out of the bike but it keeps it down on the trail and just allows you to guide it through keeping off the brakes which I reckon is how the bike works best.
Also, when climbing, think high cadence, confident and powerful. If you're a low gear stomper/masher, yeah it's going to hurt you I suppose.
Oh and go for a bigger size if you're in between. I'm 5'10" and ride an 18" with saddle right forward and stubby stem, gets you inside the bike even more which again, is how it works best. The kinked top tube was a great idea as it allows you to ride a size up and use the above configuration. The long wheelbase of the bigger bikes slows it down a little in the twisties but makes it much better in the "Gnar" type stuff.
I've sort of given up evangelising (this is a lie because I can't help myself half the time but I'm trying) about the bike recently because tbh, some just want to hate it because it doesn't make sense financially or on paper. And also, not everyone is going to get on with it so there's no point really.
That said, I'd buy another one in a heartbeat, I've explored so much in terms of technique and personal limits with the thing over the last two years that there's a warm comforting familiarity and predictability that inherently makes you ride better.
When I do something, the bike responds exactly as I expect. For me that's the greatest quality a bike can have and the price of that is hard to pin down.