Interesting. I normally fly a TR182 and a Pitts S2C (and a Robinson R44 but I don't think that counts). The Robin feels a lot "bouncier" than the 182 and yet the control movements needed to keep things going reasonably smoothly seem heavy. Of course the Pitts is quite bouncy too but the control movements are very light.
Was yours a high time, tired old dog with a questionable maintenance history?
It was a 1976 DR400-180. I don't know the maintenance history but I've no reason to suppose it has been bad. So "yes" to the first bit and "no" to the second. However the design of the panel and controls is decidedly idiosyncratic. For example the brake is a pull-lever in the middle of the panel. The master switch is a push-in control like an old-fashioned choke. There are no switches, only two-button circuit breakers. And so on.
Of course you can get used to all this. I'm flying it solo this afternoon so perhaps I'll come back a convert.
n5296s