JammedStab -
Just did my first few flights on a 732 after flying a 727. Flies well enough but much more busy for the PNF and during ground stops. Plus you have to pull back a bit in the flare insted of pushing a bit. How strange.
Lower aircraft weights, higher takeoff speeds(what do you expect when you can use a flap setting of only 1°) and its weird being able to actually hear the engines. Somehow the 72 still seems more like a real airplane.
OK.....gotta jump in here even though it's been over 20 years since I flew the 737-200/300. When I first got on the -200, we had three pilots so the workload for the PNF wasn't that bad. But, you're right; with only two it can become busy at times, but it's no different than any other two-man aircraft.
Flaps OTHER than 1 degree were used for takeoff on both the -200 and -300.
As to "pull back a bit in the flare".....well, that's the way REAL airplanes are flown. The major 'flaw' with your 7-TWO-7 is the engines are in the WRONG place !!