" The Astar is no worse than any other aircraft (bar the 76... ) without hydraulics"
Oh really? Do you have experience of a 76 with no TR hydraulics? I would doubt very much that you'd get much response from the pedals. There is no way of simulating it either (maybe FSI do but I would take it with a pinch of salt if they do, having seen their 212/412 TR failure simulation).
I think the reference to "any other a/c " is a bit sweeping; do you mean any other small singles in the same class? Anything bigger than, say, a Bo105 and I think you'll be lucky to be able to move the pedals without assistance (any 105/117 drivers able to comment?) Can't in a 365/155 and certainly not in bigger types still (61/332). 365/155 has a definite advantage in this area though; umpteen square feet of tail surface!