More updates - it appears that GT and schwin have been bought by pacific cycles (who also own Mongoose) for some paltry sum, and that GT won't be making any bikes over $1200 or something. No words yet on where schwin is destined (but I did hear that they were intending to head back to their "traditional" (read lawnmower shop) markets...
...so you can get XTR GT i-drives real cheap (around 1400 pounds) now. Neat. A frame with lots of moving bits that you won't be able to replace when it breaks...