I've one in my hanger as well and consider it one of if not the best flying plane I've owned. Mine is powered with a 4 stroke 1.20 and flies it well without the wing drop you outline but it does suffer the landing issue you note.

I think the issue with this low wing design is that when it is balanced to fly the best, it is actually out of trim for no power landings. A head wind requires some power on and she will glide a little nose up but otherwise produce a good glide slope that maintains speed enough to avoid stalling. However, with no wind and power off, the glide slope is too shallow to keep speed and it will slow down and stall. The solution is to force a steeper glide slope for no power landings. I do that by using flapperons and I may have some elevator mix... its been too long ago now since setting it up but the setup produces a proper (steep enough) glide slope for no power.

I probably fly the plane only every other month and recently forgot to use flapperons with a no wind condition and like you, saw the plane stall in from a few feet up but fortunately suffered no damage as mine didn't drop a wing.

As to takeoffs...yes the drag of those very large wheels will force careful elevator control to keep from having the engine pull the nose over. Are you getting back off the elevator a little as soon as she breaks ground?

btw... this plane is the only I've owned that will do fantastic lumcevaks.... as many as four reverse tumbles that always please the spectators.