I agree with you Backpacker.
This morning I flew an aeroplane I know well - with 100+ hours on it, and which I occasionally instruct on, to a meeting. I hadn't flown it for some months however. I found myself having to actively monitor and manage the ball/sideslip/rudder.
This would only be a bad thing if I was unaware of the need, or couldn't cope - neither of which is true. But it is also true that I still had to work at it.
G