That brings back memories. My first single seat flight was in a Pawnee ( but not quite as long ago as that). For someone with plenty of tailwheel experience it is easy to fly with great performance, being light with nothing in the hopper. A 250hp Lycoming up front helps. The view is actually quite good over the nose as it slopes down so much. I've flown plenty worse.
Takeoff was brisk as you say. When I got to around 400' I can remember thinking "Oh well you've done it now, got to get this thing back on the ground yet". Flown plenty of single seaters since but will always remember that Pawnee with affection.