I started on a Marin Palisades Trail back in '85 or '86. My wife has been riding a
sweet Marin Mount Vision for the past two years. The Mount Vision is a Taiwanese built frame, but the weld quality is excellent (it better be, there are 13 feet of welds joining the monocoque frame halves). Hers is the super-beefy single pivot design, but the Jon Whyte Quad suspension is a well thought-out linkage design that has excellent characteristics.
I realize you're "only" looking at the Hawk Hill hardtail, but based on my experience with the company and their attention to detail and frame quality, I wouldn't hesitate for a moment to plunk down the cash.
