Bit of a shame for mountain biking when the announcers did not have much of a clue that they had the most decorated slalom rider of all time-Leigh Donovan racing, or as they called her "Lay". World Champion, World Cup Champion, 9X National Champion and the only female in both the BMX and MTB hall of fame...and she decided last minute to ride the slalom with little miles in the legs, 44 yr old mother, and gets 4th place.....Bit of a story there, but this is the new era of media. Congrats to the winners and losers.
Few of those companies produce dedicated DS bikes now that 4X is no longer on the UCI WC. But trail bikes got lower and got shorter chainstays so they made a good replacement. A bike like the Trek Ticket was a 4X bike before it was even for sale. It is now being marketed as a slopestyle bike. You can look at it differently. All these bikes are being used for DS so they all make a proper DS bike no matter what the marketing dept. tells you .
Interesting that you are trying to be a mountain bike photographer yet insulting one of the most photographed mountain bikers in the sport. Tippie is great, and the riders all respect him and give him a great interview.