Thanks Toast. I'll demo one tonight or tomorrow if the local shop has one available in my size. It'll be over 30 as I probably need a L or Xl, but if it's got the new-cool-hot geo for climbing, maybe it won't matter. Dropper post is about 770 grams, I could knock out about a half pound with a different dropper post.....
I'll try to demo a more XC bike same-day to see if that's what I need.