Are “boutique” mountain bike brands better?
Not necessarily. They may fulfill a need in a bicycle that large brands don’t. Larger companies try to fill a broader spectrum of riders where smaller companies pool their limited resources into a specific niche. Sometimes a smaller company will come up with a new improvement and get it to market faster since they aren’t as bound by the larger companies bureaucracy. On the other hand, larger companies are in a better position to chase down new ideas with their greater resources. Remember that at one time Specialized and Cannondale were boutique brands. I wouldn’t get hung up on brands wether they are boutique brands or big brands. If a bike works for you ride it.
