Interesting topic.
I have just bought a part built XS tri-gear, as much for the build challenge as anything else, and hope to have it flying by the end of the year. I have flown a friends MonoWheel (but not taken off or landed it, and would not have purchased this type due to lack of experience). I would tend to agree with the comments about the finger brakes (although not from experience), but I'm glad my XS has foot brakes.
I found it fairly benign in the air, and interesting to fly stick & rudder, as opposed to the C-182 I usually fly. It's a long time since I did any gliding, but I did manage to gain 500ft, throttled back in a thermal. I didn't find the forward vision a problem, but again, not a lot to compare it with other than the various Cessna's and TB's I flown.