Unfortunately, I can never just keep it simple: You get a bike without knowing what the final product will look like. You put it together and don't like it that much. End of story, right? Hmmm. I can't leave it at that. No, let me complicate it! :roll: Your old mountain biking routine isn't in the cards now, but you want to pedal something, so you're trying to find the right two wheels for this point in your life. If you can't tweak this ride into something you like, then it's smart to salvage what you can and move onto another rig. It's a process and you'll end up with something that feels right AND looks good.
When I look at your bike pictures, and try to envision ape handlebars, I can also see a banana seat on it. Good luck and enjoy the journey!