Flat Pedals. I am very comfortable being clipped-in. Not a surprise after riding that way for a couple decades. Comparatively, suck at riding flat pedals. Suck! But, LOVE the simplicity. Been riding flats a lot this year and gradually getting much, much better.
Uphills are harder. Nasty uphills like R&R and No Quarter are egregiously harder. There is some more walking. More walking, mind you, made quite comfortable by not wearing clip-in shoes. There are also moments of uphill brilliance. Moments of uphill brilliance always include having my seat slammed. Downhills are somehow more fun.
It is never frustrating riding by myself. It was occasionally frustrating riding with other people. Then I decided that it was not frustrating at all. They can wait. Or not.
You would choose flats over your current clipped-in setup if climbing time v. other riders didn’t matter?
Deore. The Deore 12-spd cassette has seven cogs on a carrier. Shifting is great. Even under load. Longevity is proving to be very good. The whole drivetrain, including the crankset, costs less than an XTR cassette.
You still want XTR?
Push-Ons. Push-on grips are inexpensive. Even factoring the cost of a rattle can of clear spray paint. Remove any amount of hard plastic sleeve between your hands and the bar. Push-on grips are awesome. You will spend $40 on a pair of Ergon lock-on grips that may work better than your current $30 lock-on grips.
You will not try a $15 pair of push-ons?!
G5 Tires. You say that mountain biking is too expensive. Specifically mention Maxxis tires. Specifically, mention the Assegai. You ride a lot. It wears out to fast. What about the Bontrager G5? It is a 29×2.5″ World Cup and EWS proven most-conditions DH tire with good rubber for less money that has an excellent life span. You buy the Assegai. All your friends ride it.
What about saving a pile of cash on the rear tire? G5, Butcher? No. The tire patches must match. The tire patches must match. Matching tire patches are a must. DHR II 3C rolls faster than Assegai and says ‘Maxxis.’
Tires must say Maxxis?