Av8rps,
WOW! While I have to utmost respect for you and your posts, that is the first time I have seen or read that much negativity on the Rebel. I have personally flown a Rebel and I absolutely loved it!! Felt much more like a sporty handling 172 class of plane verses the light loaded KF and RANS I have flown. The thing fly like it was on rails. Nothing close to what you have discribed. The few Rebels that I know of on amphibs will generally perform at or better than the well respected Super Cub. The cruise speeds I saw (on amphibs) was usually over 100 and I know of a couple that exceed that speed by a decent amount.
I really don't believe there is any one perfect plane and they all have something that is a compromise.
Another thing you will find is most of the Rebel's seem to end up in Canada or some other type of 'bush' area.
Not understanding the comment about the low seating as this is totally up to how the builder constructs hih/her seats. The seats in one of the Rebels I own are very similar to my 172. The KF seating sure isn't 'up there' either with the factory thin pad.
I have conversed with a couple (man/wife with two planes) that own a Rebel and a Carbon Cub. They use the Rebel for most of their travels and the CC is more of the man toy. I guess it all comes down to someones mission.
My mission is changing, the only reason I might be selling the Rebel. Health issues and eventually wanting to have only one plane that will be LSA complient.
While I am defending the Rebel, my next plane will either be a RANS S20 or the KF SS7.