The DS is a great machine but I don't feel it's the best trail quad. Depending how wide is your trail is you will either love it or hate it. If you want low end torque stick with a Raptor of Z400. However I think the DS is better trail quad than the Predator. Predator is a rev happy machine, DS simply has more torque than the Predator. Your bud is dead wrong there. If your trails are rocky you'll want a skid plates and a steering stabilizer will help. The newer style DS are prob better than the model I have simply cause they are a bit narrower, a tad lighter, and a shorter swingarm which can help you lift the front end up on demand.

Where do you ride in PA? I bent a footpeg on my Raptor out in a place called St. Claires. Rocky stuff out there in PA.