Always take those MTBR reviews with a grain of salt.

Size of bike has nothing to do with the weight. The weight of a bike is a factor of the frame material and the component package.

In your price range, weight of the bike WILL be an issue. Remember light-cheap-strong pick two? That certainly holds for mountain bikes, especially in the sub $1K range.

Specialized and Giant have the reputation of the most bang for the buck in terms of component specifications.

In a new bike, my opinion is that fit is very important. If it doesn't feel good when you ride it, you won't ride it much. You can always change out some heavy components later. Frankly, lots of us started out on heavier bikes and it just makes you stronger.