Shut off the AFCS and the old 61 handles like a 206, sort of. As stated above, there are a lot more things to deal with in a heavy than just hands and feet.
A few years ago I did a ferry flight in the 61 with a fellow. He had no time in the machine before we did our first leg and he flew it like a veteran driver. Granted he is a high time pilot but it was all on aircraft smaller than the 412. He had no problems adjusting to it. It just needs to be handled like a big truck, it is certainly not a sportscar. Although I've been through a 75 minute logging cycle in it to argue that point too.
I in the other had would give up what I do to go fly something sporty again like the Astar or the 500, now they are a far different animal than the "Pretty Sea King"
Here is a size comparison. The 61 tail rotor pushes about the same amount of horsepower as the 206 main rotor.
Here's a picture from a friend working down south in the GoM.
