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mattyc-
For what it's worth the list I considered were: Moots, Seven, Mosaic, No. 22, Stelbel, Crisp, Enigma, Triton, Eriksen / Bingham and Sturdy.
I think one of the main price differences with Moots is the tubing they get. I'm pretty sure they're the only manufacturer who gets proper double butted tubing from Reynolds. The others (Firefly, Seven etc) do the double butting themselves.
I'm pretty sure they all make great bikes. Ultimately it comes down to personal preference and price, the different approach taken by Sturdy was what clinched them for me.
Saffronspokes
Merlin are still making frames but no longer by Merlin themselves:
'John Siegrist, the co-owner of Dean Bikes and the Janus Cycle Group, after buying the rights to the Merlin name from Competitive Cyclist and Backcountry.com, unveiled a new line of Merlin titanium bikes built in Boulder, Colorado'
Arguably just as good if not better if they're being built by Dean. Really like the frames they're putting out. Not bad value, either. Custom geo is the same price as stock which is nice.
No ballpark needed! $3637.69 for my Seven inclusive of the fit, Cane Creek 40 and Enve 2.0. This is obviously custom and 'rider specific.'
A Vamoots is $4400 for non-custom geo and not 'rider specific' with whatever fork they're using as well as a CK inset. I don't know how much a custom Moots is. But the cost difference alone there was enough to make me choose the Seven.
*These prices are post-tax.