Re 'you can feel what's going on', I'm nervous about that. By the time you can feel it, it's getting to be too late - which is why 'rules of thumb' are useful.
Imagine an early tailwheel conversion solo. The 'lard' has got out of the back seat, so she's that bit more 'tail happy'. Bloggs feels the tail lighten. Stick is already back. Due to inexperience, Bloggs opts for the most immediately accessible thing he thinks he can change - speed - applies the brakes in search of a feeling of more control, and ends up with the prop in the dirt instead.
There but for the grace of God....