I have like 200ish miles on this new set, so hardly a review. But I wanted to share the ridiculous differences I've found already from my pilot road 3 set that had 10k+ miles on them. Firstly, the profile of the PR4 front tire is much sportier. So much easier to dive into turns and it feels like butter in and out of lines when carving twisties. It's not just the new tire phenomenon. This is real. I'm sure they don't out perform track tires or some of the sportier options. But for a bloke wanting both the longevity of sport touring dual compound tires and some spirited riding, this is a great compromise!
I completely agree with your assessment! After having PR2s, I went with the 4s. I have just over 1,000 miles on my PR4s. They aren't as buttery as I expected, but they are much better than the 2s. I also wanted the longeviity that comes with the dual compound. I'm awaiting some reviews of the T30s to see about trying them out for my next set. Until then, I'm very pleased with the PR4s.