Updating... made some changes.
I swapped the Diverge to Maxxis Re-Fuse 650x50's. I was having issues with sealant leakage on the Byways and it always seemed like a crap shoot if they were going to stay sealed and hold air. The Maxxis tires are a little burlier but it doesn't seem like I've given up anything when it comes to speed on the paved stretches.
On the MTB front... I'm really loving the Fuse on the 29'ers. I've ridden it at Allaire, Six Mile, Hartshorne and Huber and I'm really enjoying how the bike feels. It dropped almost two pounds in weight and the 29'ers just want to roll so much better than the 6Fattie setup. I've also swapped to clipless pedals... finally and the transition has gone well.
Finally, myself and others, under the guidance and direction of
@pygmypony have been working on some local trails, right on the border between Edison and South Plainfield. The trailhead is about 1.5 miles from my house. Two weeks ago, a bunch of us (maybe 10) including my son, spent 4 hours cleaning and prepping about 2.5 miles of trail. We started posting about it son Facebook and Strava with the hopes that others would start riding it and that is exactly what is happening. The trails have seen some traffic almost every day since and they are finally beginning to wear in. I am so stoked to have a place so close.