If one can afford both then certainly why not! That being said, I really like the simplicity of the hardtail. Age seems a reasonable consideration, but if you have been riding a fully rigid with skinny (and presumably high pressure) tires without much issue then having modern, fatter, low-pressure tires and a front suspension should be enough to keep things cushioned. I would give some of the local black-diamond trails a chance once you have practiced up. There is very little in the area that is truly crazy if you watch your speed. As you said, you aren't interested in torching through features at warp speed anyways. Modern brakes will help there too. I would also wholeheartedly recommend getting something with a dropper post. They certainly aren't a strict requirement, but mine has saved me from going OTB more times than I can count.