Wow, that's a very nice looking Pulsar you have there Jim. I would definitely get that flying again!

Expo is very handy IMO. I had a Lanier Shrike I build a few years ago and it was quite a handful when I first flew it. All the rates were set according to plans but it was still very twitchy. I used exponential to soften aileron and elevator control and it became much easier and nicer to fly.