I second what Barry says for the Sundowner. Trailing link gear on the
Sundowner cushions even the hardest of hard landings.

This statement has my head spinning. This the opposite of what I have
read in every review of these planes

That's what I have read too. Maybe this trait just gets exaggerated
after hearing it over & over. I cant believe the Sundowner/Sierra
would require superman pilot skills. Is it just that it is intolerant
of those *really* bad landings, ie: those that should have ended in a
go around? With new rubber shocks, would the bouncing be minimized?
Or is it the other way around - with old rubber shocks, is the gear
"softer"?

Rich