Well, there's learning from experience too. And enough dissent and conflicting opinion on forums like this to prevent total brainwashing.Anyone claiming to select due to quality of design, product etc has likely been suckered just as much as anyone else.
Who decides whether something has quality, nice form et in the first place - an entire ecosystem of reviewers, influencers, riders, taste makers etc. It's easy to imagine an alternative reality where bike components are all made from stainless steel because people prize longevity and multi-decade reliability over light weight, aero performance, looks etc.
At the time the 1990 and 93 range would disagree. hit the mood just right from my memory, especially the 93's.Marin stuff has always looked incredibly naff to me.
Er, Kona Unit.Specialized and Trek, for all the aforementioned reasons.
Specialized don't call bikes bikes, they call them units. Says it all.
So you've cracked it, there's a long story but that's exactly why they call it the Unit, as a piss take to SpecializedEr, Kona Unit.