Cody, I have some 170 hours on the MD902 explorer, and feel that you have indeed a quieter machine,but, the handling is a little ...... different !!!
Safety with these types is tops - providing you appreciate the flight characteristics of Coanda effect and the Notar system. All helicopters WILL bite given enough reason ( I hear what you say Letsby - I remember the prang only too well) I have run out of pedal in a very high wind - but the 902 is a big slab sided aircraft. You MUST know what is going on at ALL times ( brain ahead of machine ) and be prepared to counter limited power or control situations at the moment they occur.
FLIR