Personally Im happy to see these available in an price range I can get past the wife.
I figure if a $200 26" FS walmart bike could hold up to what I used to weigh, this would be good enough for me. Ive ridden a fatty, and as great as it was, it wont replace my 29er, but instead allow me to ride the fat bike stuff and enjoy all that fun and I can ride happily in the snow so I can ride year round more easily. Kinda like the reason come tax time Im getting a "entry lvl" road or touring bike for commuting and riding pavement around home.
Is there really any downside to buying the bike besides obviously its going to be heavier? I personally want aluminum frame (no reason besides I like the looks of hydroformed aluminum) and ones like Trek want $2500+. My only concern is (keep in mind this is me, not hardcore, dont jump or doing anything crazy) that the frame and wheelset will last since those seemed to be called into question. Again, its me, going to tinker with it over time, but for ME do any of you see a reason NOT to???
This is hypothetical atm I know being fat bikes are booming like crazy so who knows what will be out by next summer/fall. But think more in this "price range" than its from bikes direct as after xmas, I start saving (what I can with new baby) for a fatty come next fall.