Ya, I realy do not think most will feel the difference - at the end of the day it is an extra 4" on the snow and maybe 2 more lugs.
I do recall how that 13.5" track on the F7 sure liked to spin vs. the 15" track.
It will be nice to run the 900TR to get a feel for it, as I assume you consider your next sled of choice. I think they are nice machines, but if pounding roughstuff all day, any 4-stroke will not be fun.
I do not find the steering hard, but I am sure if you rode your sled and than jumped to a 4-stroke, it would be a big adjustment.
I was able to run a 2024 900TR with smart shocks on my recent trip, with his track studded, it felt quite a bit diferent in the traction repartment & getting the power down so much better, I really should get a studded track on mine, but I really like the IR the way it is and the looser sliding feeling in the corners.
As for the smart shocks, not that I played with it, I still preferred my sled with the Elka shocks for some reason - I am sure more of a matter of what I am used too and could get used to the SS too and enjoy them as well......I did feel as though the front SS were much better than then how the skid felt with the SS, should be an option to onlt get the SS in the front, IMO.
The guy that rode my sled, with the performance enhancement added, while I rode his sled, said my sled felt like his 850 that he rode last year.