I had a DB sorrento as well, my first real mountain bike bought in the very early 90’s. I rode it at Watchung, Hartshorne and probably South Mountain too. I replaced / upgraded a lot if not all the major parts on it along the way.
The take away, probably should of spent a little more and started with a better bike, but it certainly worked and gave me some hands on experience tinkering with bikes. Then I upgraded to a Jamis Diablo, a big step up from the Diamond Back, but I still wound up replacing / upgrading most of everything on that bike as well. I rode the Diamond Back for like 2 years and the Jamis for the better part of 20 years.
After twenty years I broke down and upgraded to a Spearfish, a full squishy and 29” wheels, what an eye opener that was. But needless to say, there have been upgrades to it as well, from 2 x 10 to 1 x 11 to 1x 12, and brakes and.……
Guess no matter where you jump in, entry level or full on race machine, you will always be looking to UPGRADE 😄
So I say go for the best that your budget allows you at the time and enjoy.
( I am not in that top pic from the 90’s, those are my friends)