VW throttle response especially when the TSI was introduced to the Mk6 and Scirocco has never been a redeeming feature, for me just not linear enough, i've run a linear throttle map on my Ed35 and having gone back to stock yesterday you just notice these things when they are gone, my only gripe on the Mk7 throttle is you get that annoying click on the pedal when you want full throttle
issue with the older TSI and K03 cars was the turbo, with peak power being delivered to low down the rev range for fun through the gears action, the IHI/K03 v K04 debate was always a bit like the 8V v 16v debate on Mk2s as to power delivery when having fun versus day to day drivability
peak power isn't much higher up the rev range on the Mk7 but VW have masked this by upping the mid range on the torque which means you don't really need to rev the nuts off it
people will moan about lag on the Mk7 R in a similar way to the old K04 cars where you can get caught napping as car is not as forgiving if you are not in the optimum gear
for me an optimum tuned GTI will always be some chassis fettling and a Stage 1 remap, when you start doing more it ceases to be the car you bought and whilst more exciting isn't always more fun
