I think you just gotta test ride a few bikes, on real trails, not just on the street in front of the shop.

This really hit home for me when I was looking at a Yeti vs. an Ellsworth last year. I ended up demo'ing both on the same day, so I could compare them directly. A friend of mine (guy, same height) also tried both.

I fell in love with the Ellsworth, couldn't stand the Yeti, even though I was dead set on loving the Yeti, and I really thought Ellsworths were kind of snooty and not my personality at all. My friend had the exact opposite experience -- the Yeti worked for him and the Ellsworth just didn't.

Mountain bikes have such differences in suspension design and geometry that I just don't think anyone's opinion counts much aside from your own.

That being said, my first mountain bike I didn't do any research, and it was fine for a couple of years till it got run over. But after those couple of years, I did find myself interested in seeing what else is out there.