Crikey!
The Q400 is a little unstable, hence the strakes and high use of auto-pilot.
The ATR, in contrast, is top fun to hand-fly although the 42 is a little heavy in the roll.
I have no idea about the Sou-Man story.
I have been at the wrong end of 2 other incidences where the pax were 'misinformed', the last one last month (GCI-SOU).