EBCAU, agree with you. We recently took bought one and I now have about 70 or so hours in it.
A good machine for us, private ops, and does it comfortably.
But 7 up and full fuel, not unless 6 of them are multiple amputies. With full fuel and me, I can carry 378 kg of bodies and gear.
I like the machine now that I am starting to feel comfortable in it and the more I fly it, the more I like it.
It does get up and dance at 2427kg which is all the better, the VMED is very good and the fact it has dual hydraulics and dual FADEC plus the back up just makes my life so mush easier.
As yet we haven't had any maintenance issues, due for a 100 hourly next week so will see.