Just based on 1 test (88 - Aud), my feeling is that the increased difficulty of testlets is exaggerated, and if you use a test bank, real test "hard" questions aren't quite as bad. BTW - even my middle testlet contained a few lollipops.
To be fair, I don't think I've ever qualified for a "hard" testlet on REG and some have said that testlet 2 has been a hammer on that one.
Other opinions?