I have about 40-50 flights on my Reactor Bipe and let me say that it has been a blast every single flight! If you have soft thumbs than fly it on hight rates all the time and it will reward you with smooth and slow flight, but throw the sticks around and it becomes wild on demand! I have had 3 crashes with this plan and every time the plane brook in a way that left it repairable with a little thin CA, 1/16th balsa, and time. i am flying with the recommended Rimfire 35-36-1200 and it has some climb out authority when paired with an APC 11X5.5 prop and a 2200mah Zippy-h pack. I think if I was to buy a new motor I would buy the 35-36-1000 and run an APC 12X6. MotoCalc shows 5oz more thrust for the same amp draw, wich is about 35 amps in Mississippi.

The harmonic thing you are talking about is not normal, at lest not on my motor.

I fly mostly hard 3-d with this plan and have all the surfaces maxed out on throw and have moved the cg ~1/4" back form the recommended range. I also have the recommended s3114's in the wings and the digital s3154s in the tail with out any problems (other than easy to strip in case of hard landing). So I think that the recommended set up has more than enough power to satisfy most flyers, and if you want more power then go with the 35-36-1000 and have fun!