Matt,
My short part of the story.
I found a Mooney I liked, I was looking for a 172, but stumbled upon this M20E. I looked for a ride and could not find one.So I just bought it, sight unseen, never flown a Mooney.
Then I found a flight instructor with a Mooney and did some transition training. The first time in his Mooney F, I was shocked how small it was ,I said out loud "Oh my god what have I done" Well I'll flip it, I thought. Then I flew 5 hours with him.
By the time I got my Mooney , I had already become a Mooniac. Now I think it is one of the greatest planes, and very comfortable, of them all..
I'm in Pennsylvania or we could fly.
carl