Re the Enstrom
As to control forces, they are very light indeed if you trim, in fact you can trim it to fly hands and feet off!
I wouldn't have thought they are particularly difficult to service, the engine is a standard lycoming with a turbo and FI and everthing else seems pretty simple, apparantly the main gearbox was originaly based on 1/2 a truck gearbox!
Fly one and see what you think, I have no regrets with mine but there seems to be a few Enstrom bashers around who have never actually flown one but enjoy slagging it off, this is a shame because it is one of the safest helicopters in the world!