I think the first question is how tall are you?  A 5'8" rider may have to wrestle the 29er more than a 6' rider.  I bought my first 29er last year.  It was a Gary Fisher RIG single speed.  I love it.  I'm about 6'2" and it is a perfect fit.  So perfect in fact, that within the past three months I bought two more 29ers, one of which replaced by 26" full suspension Kona. 

The 29er bike will roll smoother than the 26" bikes due to the increased surface area of each tire and the smaller angle of approach created with the larger wheel.  I believe the 29er tracks better than the 26" bike, but there is a slight downside - in highly technical areas (including switchbacks), you may struggle some with alignment.  I have found however that this is not the bike's fault, but my own.  The faster, smoother rolling bike allows me to set my mind on cruise control more easily than when riding the 26", therefore when the technical stuff comes around, I have to remember how to ride.  Think of it as driving a manual transmission vehicle after having driven an automatic for an extended period of time.

Ultimately, if you can fit on a 29er, go for it.  They are fast, but spend the money on tubeless wheels and tires...you won't be sorry.