Looking the giant trance now... What about the quick release on the rear wheel?? Is it solid??
The Trance has a one-piece rear triangle (i.e. there are no pivots, it's all welds) so it doesn't benefit as much from a through axle as a single pivot/split pivot/horst link bike.
All the higher spec Giants come with a 12mm axle anyway but Giant themselves have said it's more marketing than engineering.
I ride a 2015 giant anthem. My brother has a 2014 giant trance. We switched bikes tgs other day. The anthem will out climb the trance all day. That night he put his trance up for sale. Just my opinion good luck