My initial budget was also 2K when I started shopping. I took a spin on the Pugs and a Moonlander. I was dead set on one of them, but hesitated on the purchase until they were both gone. I shopped around for quite some time, but nobody had my size.
I later had a hiking trip planned for Isle Royale National Park in Michigan's Upper Peninsula which is near Copper Harbor that has some sweet riding. My last bike purchase was somewhere around 1997 so I needed an upgrade if I was to hit the trails I kept hearing about.
The trip was just days away and I didn't have time to drive to all the bike shops so I called around. I could only locate a gold colored Mukluk 2 in my size. I was weirded out by the sound of the color until I saw it in person. It only took one lap around the building and I knew this was what I had been waiting for. It was a little more than I had initially wanted to spend. I haven't thought about it once though because the bike always puts a big smile on my face when I ride it and that, to me, is well worth it. Truth be told I think it makes me smile even just looking at it. It also pulls a trailer with 2yr old quite well.
Now I'm poring over various gear combinations I can outfit the bike with for extended trips. The only issue is by the time I get the gear all sorted out I'll be ready for a bike upgrade because I am now inspired to get out and ride more.