i’ve only been riding about a year, but i’m fairly aggressive and have the bruises to prove it (maybe i just suck tho?). seems to me that if i could go faster on the trails (due to more traction of the larger wheels), climb easier and go over obstacles better, i’d enjoy riding even more. as far as rolling over obstacles too easily, i’d just be even more aggressive and go over stuff that right now is too big for me to try on my 26" Gary Fisher Hi Fi Plus. as for agility, with the advances in technology, it would not surprise me if a good 2008 or 2009 29er (like a new Fisher) were as agile as the 2006 26" Stumpjumpers in the tight spots. My bike is only a year old, so my wife would kill me if i went out and spent 2500 on a new 29er, but i’m seriously thinking about it for a couple of years from now or if i have an unexpected windfall. Would love to spend some quality time on one soon though to check it out.