Gonna jump back in after 9 years.

Was fairly into mountain biking as a kid, I wouldn't say I'm a beginner, but not an intermediate. I'd ride every day until my bike was stolen, haven't owned a bike in almost a decade. Exited to get back on it. Tomorrow I'll be picking up a specialized rockhopper comp. There's a fire road downhill through the woods that'll cut the time I'd ride the bus to work in half. This will be the bikes primary purpose, but their are some half decent trails where I live the city being primarily forest. Rockhopper a good choice? I'd like this bike to last a long time. Bit of a small town so most other bikes in an XL will have to be ordered in. My bike shop also has a kona blast, and a specialized pitch comp in my size ready to go that I was considering. But both are about asking $200 over what their worth.