Interesting topic.
In my Airbus (A320) I'm quite happy that the system limits me to max alph, g or pitch attitude as circumstances dictate. I can't forsee the need to exceede these limits given the ability of the EGPWS to warn me of the need to avoid the hard stuff; I won't be doing any aerobatic displays!
In the F18 I found the carefree handling considerably enhanced my ability to get on with the job of shooting missiles or dropping bombs. It did however have an over-ride switch on the stick which, if memory serves allowed up to 10G but I never had to use it. The 10G seems to me a good comprimise to give absolute max performance but without putting the pilot to sleep.
I'm sure that tarnished is right on the nail; these sort of aeroplanes can add energy in a heartbeat and unloading at the wrong time can be a killer. A USMC Col in an F18 discovered this at El Toro (if memory serves) in the early 90s.
Happy landings
3 Point