I tested the Nobby Nics favorably on hardpacked decomposed granite (coarse loose over hardpack). I noted that it was a vast contrast to the Nevegal, being much faster and lighter feeling. To rephrase what I said, I felt they encouraged you to hammer fast and get out of the saddle and attack the trail more aggressively. If it didn't have the grip, there's no way you'd have the confidence to do that, but I basically discovered that it's sort of a false confidence, as its limits in its grip are not that great (esp. compared to the Nevegal's grip). I rode Nevegal DTC 2.35 on a Reign X0 (and on my Kona Dawg before I went to High Roller 2.35), both overkill for trails like Sycamore Canyon and much of Big Bear, making pedaling a serious chore; I thought it was the altitude of Big Bear, but I took another bike there with different tires and discovered otherwise. Taking the Nobby Nics to various other areas... when you go down a few times with them, trying to be a badass, you will know it's not a coincidence. Hell, you should know if you push your current trails hard enough on them that their grip limits aren't that high. They're a fast lightweight trail tire--I guess you can call me a fool for trying to push it like a grippier "AM" tire and finding its limits to not be higher than its "class of tires", but with people implying its grip is so great (without specifying what exactly they're comparing it to), I feel a need to put it into context.
By suggesting those other tires, you clue me into what kind of trails you ride and what style you ride with. Basically the same kind of style and trails I ride, pedal fast and hard, attacking aggressively, especially for sections you find fun, finding a nice balance of your own skill's limits and bike's limits, while being efficient and being able to do it for hours. On the trails I like the Nobby Nics on, I actually like micro knob tires better on (Ikons specifically, not the SB8) and currently also run the Panaracer CG tires, since they make my XC bike feel as capable as a bigger bike. They're great light loose over hardpack tires. Expect to get flak for saying anything is the best, especially if you point out cons about them...
You prob just misunderstood my post as something negative about the NN for SoCal dirt. I'm more or less just doing a comparison of the NN vs the Nevegal. The Nevegal is a solid choice for a "beginner" wanting to ride more features and giving confidence riding new trails you haven't ridden before, as it provides a secure grip on lots of stuff. It's just slow and feels heavier than it really is. It gives other tires in its weight range a bad name, making plp avoid tires in that range in fear that they're as slow. The NN is better for fast hardpack that lets you lean and rewards a more aggressive style. The better you know your trails and limits, the more you get out of the NN, implying Nevegals are more of a starter tire and NN more of an advanced rider's tire that knows what they want in a tire.
I have 2 riding buddies riding Purgatories on their Nomads. One's a clyde that really knows how to spec his bike with reliable good performing parts. I can't really say much about the tires, since I only rode them when I took my friend's new Enduro for a spin (too big for me to ride seriously), but that was good enough to seriously give me a good impression of them. I was leaving sharp marks on the trail from pushing them so hard and they barely made any of that scratching sound that tires usually make at the limit of their traction. Took 'em to Mammoth, Big Bear. Skyline, Skinsuit, Sycamore, Two Trees, M-Trail... they worked well everywhere and I should note that he's a complete beginner. He was a trail runner that simply wanted to try mtn biking due to seeing how fun it looked when he encountered bikers on the trail. Seems like a good general suggestion for most looking for a tire with that level of secure grip, on the level of the Nevegal, but faster and only about $50 ea, which is reasonable for a high performance tire.
Since he pointed out what trail he rides, it makes it easier to know how to answer that NN vs Nevegal question. The NN is going to be undoubtedly worse for him.