For most seasoned flyers , a competition model needs some softening around center - using modern servos setup correctly
On older stuff we did what you are trying to do - reduce throws to make it manageable.
These older servos had a softness around center -simply because they were unresponsive around center due to electronics available
Modern stuff reponds instantly to a squeeze of the control stick-in fact on my Funtana -I can watch any surface move by simply moving the trims one click .