Diaphram VS 3 finger pressure plate?

I already tried running it without the spring, and it's way too stiff to enjoy driving the car, even just around the driveway. It's a heavier car being a convertible, plus a 3.23, so you need to float it a little. 1st gear seems a little too high; as in it feels more like a 2.something rear end gear when trying to move.

Maybe I'm too fussy, but it just doesn't feel great. To me, it almost feels like the pressure plate itself, has an over-center "spot", and that comes in around the same point that the O/C spring does too. I don't have it registered yet, so maybe I'll just put some miles on it later. I've heard that on some foreign cars with a new replacement diaphram, that they need some miles put on to make them feel better?

I did want to hear from anyone using the diaphram to see what they think about the feel.