Keg, I think we are on the same page. I flew medium size jets in Asia for a year or so and often the trim would be out....still in the band, but out. I often found myslef doing exactly as you decribed and "modifying" my rotation to get the correct rate.Basically what you described with your trim story is what IcePack is saying.....you "felt" that it was wrong, you flew the plane in a manner that produced the required result.
I guess my point is that 'feeling' the rotate works under 'normal' circumstances.
I think you make a good case for 'feeling' the rotate working under abnormal circumstances
Have a good one , Framer