Thanks again Peter - the video is most helpful; just the still photo alone confirms my suspicion that other/earlier renditions are capable of more elevator throw/travel.
Rather than focusing on the TE, I compared the amount of fuselage visible above the LE in your video-still and my Chinese version picture showing max up-elevator.
The amount of fuse visible above the leading edge in your airplane is clearly way more than what is visible in mine - there's also more light coming through the triangle relief slot on yours than mine most likely indicating a wider arc hole. Looks like my airplane's max travel is no more than your "newbie" airplane's minimum travel.
Filing open the carry-through relief slot in the rudder is probably the simplest way to achieve more throw in the "up" direction for my Chox PT-19.