I feel the "surge" is a bit over stated. I've driven plenty of chipped MKVs and they all have the same feeling to me. But what turbo car doesnt?
Its basic math. You're adding boost with an increase in RPMs, thus naturally it wants to thrust in a quadratic/exponential motion. With boost control from the computer, this can be prevented and left with a linear form but what is the fun in that? You inhibit the natural progression of the engine power. This is what my grad research has been in.
The more linearity there is the less area under the graph you siphon. With a "surge" or non linear form, you provide more power throughout the RPMs with this, shall i call it, natural progression. For all of you engineers, you took calculus....you should know.
I really dont feel like posting equations and such, so I'm going to trust you all can grasp this concept using basic calculus.
I feel the "surge" to be normal and quite exciting. Its easy to save some MPGs and to stay out of boost if you need to. Its also EXTREMELY smooth. It doesnt spike up and down while you increase the RPMs. It just follows a smooth curve upwards. I saw some GIAC graphs and they had all kinds of peaks of maxs and mins throughout the "surge" which gives me the feeling that I'd be jerking all through the RPMs. The APR chip keeps me planted to the back of my seat throught the rev range.
You're call though.