I never owned an 02, but I do have an 03. I was really skeptical about the weight . . . until I actually rode it! I love my fork! It handles drops great (duh), and is even does really well at the dirt jumps (that was a surprise). If you use the integrated stem and a bar with less than 2" rise, the front end shouldn't feel so tall either. I adapted to jumping it, from using a DJ1, in about fifteen minutes with no problem. The only time I notice the weight of the fork is when I'm loading it in the back of my truck. :D
For me, it was all about reliability. I have heard lots of people complain about Stratos, Manitou, and Boxxer, for a number of reasons, and I wasn't happy with the design of the 03 Super T. I was warned against the Shiver for my "riding style" (I don't race and I hate flex), so I tried the Monster on a whim. No regrets.