Yes, the forgotten bikes. The EX and GS are holdovers from the days of 35mm fork tubes.
Pretty fast, in their own right, and damn near indestructible.
I remember some really fast 250 & 350 twins back in them thar days. Could put a hurting on a big bike, within limits, of course.
If someone (Piaggio, are you listening?) would put a motor, like something out of the new CRF450, in a street frame, (ala the Yam SR500) I'd buy three.
I have to agree with you, too many newbees on big bikes, with their feet down going through red lights. Kind of like learing how to fly in an F16 vs. a Cessna 150. Scary and terminal.