I have the previous generation of the Hightower called the Hightower LT and I love it. I got it at a sweet deal from competitive cyclist, but 2 months after buying it, it was replaced by the Megatower. The lifetime warranty and the deal I got sold me on that bike, but if you're already thinking of spending about that much, have you looked at the Canyon Strive?
https://www.canyon.com/en-us/mountain-bikes/enduro-bikes/strive/strive-cf-7.0/2239.html#!accordions=1_0
Sweet carbon bike with a really good setup for $3,300. It has the Shapeshifter that changes it from a trail climber to an enduro descender. Pretty cool stuff.
Also, that Ripmo AF has probably the most modern and praised geometry, and the price for spec is really pretty good.
I could talk about this stuff for hours so DM me if you want.