JammedStab,
I was going to write about the Stearman, but you beat me to it.
I agree with almost everything you said. However, I think if a WWII student pilot had never flown anything else, he probably wouldn't have noticed the size.
As SSD says the Stearman is nicer to fly than a Tiger. Those are the only two biplanes I've flown. I'll have to get my hands on a Stampe one day (and a Pitts!)