I finally gave in also, and picked up an f29 ss from he fine folks at Halters. I didnt go full rigid because even plinking around in the parking lot the Mary with rigid front fork hurt my old decrepid wrists.
BUT, after a couple rides on the f29ss, I am hooked, converted, assimilated and all that jazz. Its nice...simple, quiet, less to think about.
The comparison that keeps coming to my mind is skiing vs. snowboarding. I love both, but on the board there is less stuff between me and the mountain. Its kind of the same.
The SS 29er is somewhere between a hardtail 26 & fs 26 cush wise, but it just loves to roll, and there is no dilemma of to shift or not to shift when I see a hill coming. Just pedal....I am not in great shape & I am doing just fine on it....