Congrats on the new machine!!!! What's important is that it suits you!!!! We each adapt to things differently. That's why there's more than one machine built and sold.
It was a 120M2 that I demo'd last Fall. Following is my "bad" list and "good" list. All of this compared to my current JD770G.
Good:
fast hydraulics at idle
Auto Center articulation
Selectable blade lift speed
Convenient machine controls
Good moldboard visibility at heel end of blade
Bad:
Rear view mirror visibility horrible
Front tire visibility horrible
Poor storage space in cab
Front tire side drift bad
Brakes unpredictable and noisy
Grader bounce
huge split between 4th and 5th gears
Moldboard height too short
Cruise control speed change too big
Selectable blade lift speed is too complicated to change frequently
Under powered
Yes, that's why they make so many. I have been in a Galion, Champion, Komatsu, Deere, Volvo, New Holland, Fiat Allis/Allis Chalmers, and various Cat's. I can honestly say I like the current version of M2's the best. For me the good far out weights the bad. In a days time I will cover 20% to 25% more roads than in any of the others. I like all of the controls being in may hands constantly. Them seen intuitive.
I was hoping that Deere truly was redesigning the 670 - 770 series to match the ease of operation and visibility of the M's, but they did not. Deere only changed the controls to a twin stick pattern, not the whole machine. To each his own, I do like a Deere excavator over a Cat any day. Deere finish Dozers are good too, I like the balance.
I am curious, when you tried an M2, did you adjust the mirrors out from the delivered position. That is the first thing I do in a new machine. When Cat delivers a new machine they are set in so far you only see the cab, not what is behind you. I adjust the swing arms out till I can see the ground beside the rear tires. The mirrors will get close to the doors, I set the right mirror out more that the lift. I do this because when I clean a wet ditch, I reverse the blade and grade in reverse to keep the tandems dry. That and I always enter and exit from the left side.
I will agree the fronts tire visibility is bad.
The cab does lack space. When I am in an M2, I have to take a smaller lunch cooler.. My Beagle always rides with me and in an M2 the only space for him is under the right side on the seat. He does have a good view though.
The side drift is noticeable. I just give it some crab steer. It will change the thrust on the bit and help to run straight.
The brakes are a little different. Every M I have been in they seamed soft.
I wonder if you are talking about the bounce during roading or when spreading at speed. I regardless of which grader I am in, I always measure the circumference of each rear tire. Then adjust tire pressure to make all on them match, regardless of what pressure is in each tire as long as the roll out is the same on all drive tires. All tires being the same pressure does not mean they all travel the same distance per roll. It keeps the tandem from trying to drive the tires the same distance. I check the roll out about every 250 hrs.
If your are talking about bounce when speed spreading a windrow, I found that when it starts to bounce, the throttle is opened wide up. It keeps the governor from bouncing, making the bounce worst. The newest of the M2's have a program and bounce sensor, Cat calls it Grade Control. A sensor detects when it starts to bounce and de-rates the engine till the bounce stops.
There is a big split between 4th and 5th. Usually when I go from 4th to 5th I am on my way to 8th.
Never noticed the size of the moldboard.
The console button changes the rpm's 100 up per click, and the control lever button drops rpm's 25 per click.
I never change the control speed, Just set on fast ( coarse) and leave it.
VHP's are varied from 145 in lower speeds to 174 in high speed. Never noticed a lack of power, just an occasional loss of traction, unless the tires were VUT's. They seem to grip good,
I would like to see Cat protect all of the exposed wiring harness for the lights. While I try to stay away from trees, I have always thought about a harness getting snagged.
I would like a little more ground clearance between the tandems. If the machine is equipped with rear ripper plumbing, then there is a very low hanging skid plate.
These are just my opinions, of course yours may vary.
Dave