Good Morning Cougar;
Go with the rates recommended in the assembly manual. This aircraft has some large flight control surfaces.
You can always decrease the expo after the initial test flight. Going with less expo on the initial flight could be asking for a real touchy handling aircraft.

BTW, Did you happen to check the wing and tail plane incidences? My appear to be 'way off and straight answers are forecoming from the manufacturer.

Cheers, Dave