I don't doubt a second that the Mi24 is greatly feared, I have had the occasion for a close look,and it's a really amazing concept ! (as some others russian helicopters).
I also use to fly occasionaly with former Mi 24 pilots, all of them agree to say they liked it a lot, but their flying techniques seemed to be a little bit different, and I have the feeling they were a bit cold with big and rapid variations of attitude.
I think it's a matter of adaptation to the context....adaptation is a key word in our rotor world !
Nevertheless, I really would like to meet once this Natasha who recorded on the internal vocal alert system (she cannot be "synthetic" )
She spoke to me in my few Mi8 AMT flights, and since that....!!!
Ah, those Russians !