I've been pondering this for a while and it seems to me that one of the nice sides to the traditional locost arrangement is that the seating is fairly far back. With any longitudinal middy you're looking at pushing the seating forward. This intuitively makes me think it'll be harder to detect oversteer - lateral motion will translate to the same angle but because you're closer to the front pivot point it'll be relatively less motion (and acceleration) and because I think humans are poor at determining angles and better at determining accelerations and lateral movement it' going to be more edgy feeling. Any thoughts or experience on this?

I have no idea but would be interested to know too.

I dont find im not connected or dont get good feed back in my tintop. Thats through a comfy seat, insulated by lots of soft bushes, higher up and further forward than a 7 or a midi.

Hmm I notice quite a difference between an ST185 and a 370Z - the 370Z is like snowboarding in the wet, the ST185 is like "BAM" you're backwards.

This is a fascinating and complex subject. Having owned and tracked a Westfield, driven a Caterham in anger and been a long term Elise owner I am convinced that rearward seating and 50/50 weight distribution make for an easier drive. I do not pretend to be an expert on this subject but I have studied some serious text books and had a certain amount of professional coaching.
My perhaps simplistic take on this that if you are not traction limited ( think serious V8 horsepower ) then it is all about balance and that is a subtle thing. As an example, I have undertaken various driving/coaching exercises in both my Elise and my current MX5, identical power but 40/60 weight distribution in the Lotus, 50/50 in the Mazda ( although it is 300 kg heavier ). I am invariably faster and more confident in the Mazda ( same coach, same track - Both cars have aftermarket suspension and professional geo set up. )
I have had the Elise demonstrated to me in extreme tail catching situations that I cannot replicate ( Andy Walsh@car limits.com )
however the guy is a genious ( former test and development driver at Benneton in the Schumacher era ). In the Mazda even I can do things under his tutelage that do not result in disaster.
The choice is yours.