I started with a hardtail and beat it up, and ended up buying a full suspension soon after, and the hardtail purchase felt like a sunk cost. I've also bought a nice, and lightly used full suspension bikes for $1700, which is close to your price range, and I've seen FS bikes in your price range.

In all honesty though, if you are in Northern Utah, you can get along perfectly fine with a hardtail on 95% of the trails there. It's a perfect place to own one. You can't get away with it in Moab, or where I live, but most of the northern Utah trails are pretty smooth.

I wish you as much joy on your bike as I've found on mine!