I did a little more searching/thinking, and the only things I have an opinion on right now are,
air sprung fork
1x drivetrain
disk brakes (mechanical vs hydraulic not important)
flat, non-cleat pedals
tubed wheels (tubeless seems unnecessary, expensive, and annoying, correct me if I'm wrong)
Is it reasonable to expect a bike like this for less than $1000? It sounds like I should buy a complete bike to get the best deal, are there any completes that tick all these boxes?