THAT IS WHAT BIPLANES DO----Welch3D is correct. That is what made the Pitts so spectalar--that is also why you are able to get those breath-taking tumbles(AKA Sean B Tucker, Jim Leroy--compare their act to Patty Wagstaff or Matt Chapman). I love a Pitts, but they are a different animal. The shorter the fuse, the more responsive the rudder. I was amazed at the rudder authority on my first Pitts. It was VERY SMALL compared to the rest of the control surfaces, but boy did it throw the plane around! After owning a few Ultimates I thought all bipes were the same. As the saying goes--"think again"--There is a world of difference.
I too fly a lot with rudder, and being used to warbirds, I understand your concern. If it were me--I would take out some throw instead of large amounts of expo. It may not turn as fast, but the potential for disaster is reduced until it becomes second nature. Also--as stated above, the CG can help.