I like this trend towards fat-tyre drop-bar bikes. You can do anything easier than blue/red MTB routes just fine, which is like 95% of the off-road miles in this country (when you account for hiking trails and the like). And, importantly, you can put 35mm slicks on and you've got a perfectly useful commuter or tourer. Can't really do that with a hardtail (at least not without being laughed at)
I like this trend towards fat-tyre drop-bar bikes. You can do anything easier than blue/red MTB routes just fine, which is like 95% of the off-road miles in this country (when you account for hiking trails and the like). And, importantly, you can put 35mm slicks on and you've got a perfectly useful commuter or tourer. Can't really do that with a hardtail (at least not without being laughed at)
Zipps for gravel though, get out.