Re:
I had a '95 Pine Mountain - which, when Santa delivered, arrived with the Titec post. The issue with the post was the bonding of the clamp section to the main post was a bad job, which meant the saddle turned 360 degrees! Something of a disappointment on Christmas morn..
Marin helpfully replaced the Titec with a crappy own-brand bottom-of-the-ranger in due course, several weeks later.
Never had a problem with Marin's "light at all costs" approach on the Pine - except for the wheels - those 230s were like tin foil. Couldn't keep them true. Cantis were fine though - Ritchey pads, easy to set up, matching cobalt blue anodising..