Sorry should have thrown down some details.
Boy will be 7 on december 31st. Looking at fall deals on bikes so I can hide it in my nightmare of a garage to present it to him as a x-mass/b-day gift. I know, I know, what a rip off. But I forgot to count to 9 on my fingers when testing out my wife's suspension years ago. Oh, and the boy is a giant.
As far as defining everything. Bike is used for afterschool bike camps, getting to and from school, and riding with dad on squamish trails (man-boobs, half nelson, roller-coaster/lumberjacks etc). So lots of pedalling. Present bike is a Specialized hot rock (20 inch). And yup, I want disk brakes on the next bike!
"Lots" was an exaggeration. I only know of the new Norco coming out and the Transition rip-cord that was just released. But expect many more to start coming out. Why… Lill shredder has a bit of a cult following and crazy expensive. As well, when a kids fat bike is shown at the trade shows - it means the industry has gone crazy, so maybe some sanity will happen, and lots of new 24 inch kids bikes will be in the works.
I am also cheap! So trying to justify buying a cheaper hard-tail, instead of keeping up with the jones.