By all means, avoid the gear rathole. But you should go deep enough to find a bike that feels good to ride and fits your body. I tried to be a hardtail purist,

By all means, avoid the gear rathole. But you should go deep enough to find a bike that feels good to ride and fits your body. I tried to be a hardtail purist, and quit mountain biking because it just sucked. (Local terrain is all huge rocks and drops) Years later tried a full suspension carbon- whoa, mountain biking can be type I fun?? I tried to be a commuter purist, favoring simplicity, durability, and reliability. Riding my hybrid is un-gratifying and soul-sucking. Tried a racy road bike, awkward as hell. Tried a nice gravel bike, oh my god I don't want to stop pedaling! It's worth spending a little more to get the bike that feels good for you to ride.