Jonnys, SSD:
Your differing experiences are almost certainly down to the metal at the front of the machine. The UAS heaps are considerably better off than most of the civvie examples.
To take a comparison, the FireFly at my local club has a Lycoming 118hp with a two blade prop. The chaps at Barkson are packing between 160 and 250hp... they definately handle differently!