Ya know... I had a VTX1300S once upon a time. Rode it for many years. Then bought the F6B. Could not go back.
By comparison, it handled like a pig! Mind you, I like bacon as much as the next guy... but really!!
And while I understand the 1300 and 1800 VTX bikes were different animals, by most accounts the smaller was a better (more behaved?) ride than its big brother.
So, it's probably best to think of this pass as a blessing in disguise. Sort of like going back to watch an episode or two of a beloved tv show from your distant past... they're never as pretty as you remember.