The XTR was it though. I had an m8000 xt setup for awhile too, but that m9000 XTR setup, holy fuck. I actually had the m9000 setup first, and sold the bike with it on it, and regretted it ever since.
Even the m8000 xt, which my next bike had and honestly it was a pretty good setup too, but it never quite lived up to that m9 XTR setup. It cost me a fortune, like 1x11 was not even really a thing yet it was just coming out, but I ate shit and needed a new derailleur, and got my shop to pull some strings and get their hands on one. I'm not kidding I think the setup was well over a thousand bucks. But you have to trust me on this, it literally felt like butter. I've yet to witness another drive train since that was a smooth as that one. I laughed like a little school girl that first ride, I still remember it vividly (and that's over a decade ago now).
Really? That sub went from being legit to being a global beacon for a failing platform in less than 30 seconds.