The good side!
The Dark Side is stronger, has cooler stuff and would've kicked ass if Vader hadn't tripped and thrown the Emperor who he was carrying to safety down that hole thing. You know that the Dark Side is simply better.
Ahh not necessarily. Lots of XC and AM riders are turning to short travel full suspension. Its not necessarily heavier, (My Trek for example is lighter then many hardtails). If this person is doing road, then yeah, it is unnecessary. But even gentle country trails can take a full-sus and not really see a hold back.
I never criticise another discipline, and fully recognise both the popularity and usefulness of Road Riding. Equally, I realise that the majority (like 99%) of the folk on this society are roadies.
However, it is true that Mountain Biking, globally, is more popular to road.
Something like one road bike to every ten mountain bikes? Granted that includes AM, FR, DH, XC, etc etc. But the point still stands.
Not that I'm putting one above the other, it is down to preference an' all.