It's a crap shoot, the Internet,
My next door neighbor got a FS Jamis from Bikes Direct, paid a grand,
site said it was worth $1800..
Didn't even have wet brakes,,, bike just hangs on his garage wall and its heavy.
I'll continue to support my LBS and buy what they stock.
I'm doing fine on a Scott Aspect 940 HT 29er, entry level with wet brakes..$600
It's 29.9 pounds now that I made it a 1X9
Kept the front middle chaining, a 32 and swapped the cassette to a 12X36
When I started I wanted a lighter bike right away,,, I lost 27 pounds,,
Just the same as taking 27 pounds off the bike right !
I no longer feel the need for a lighter bike at all.....
BTW I rode a $1600 HT and could not feel the benefit over mine..
It would prolly be ok once I stripped off the bells and whistles tho,,,,