Glad you got'er back!
Mine started growling at 75k. I heard it one day next to a concrete divider when running through the gears. Got it in time that it didn't get the shaft like yours.
On the "feel", if it's too soft you can pull the assist spring and it will firm up a bit. Not as much as the stocker though. With the spring still in, my pedal would stay on the floor for a split second the first time down the drag strip. Barked the heck out of the tires even going into direct!
Pull the spring and all was well.