"I've watched people hover other planes,most of them much larger,and they weren't working 1/10 as hard as I have to with this thing"

Eric,
That is just a fact of life. If you don't believe me, just read the Scale Aerobatics article in Model Aviation a couple of issues ago. The guy covers this subject quite well.

Bottom line.......3d is 10 times easier if you are willing to drop 5 grand for a 40% plane, as compared to doing it with a 1/4 scale

If you can copy with your 1/4 scale what some other guy is doing with 40%, you are the better pilot.