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Scuttler - why should we do what you like? Can't we do what we like? Some folk enjoy fettling bikes to get them working as well as possible. Then riding them and enjoying it.
Btw it's also worth noting that if you move the saddle back on its rails you will automatically have to lower the saddle which lowers your centre of gravity as well, further inmproving manoevrability.
You might also try letting more air out of your shock, thereby increasing sag, slackening the angles and further lowering the COG. I am 5'11, I run a 90mm stem on an 18" Five and I have a seatpost with medium layback and the saddle almost all the way back. I have maybe 30-40% sag in the shock and only abotu 15-20% sag on the shock - quite firm.
Also, an easy way to make a big difference to position and handling is to rotate the bars towards or away from you. Cheaper than changing the stem and has a subtly different effect.
I rode Whinlatter last september for a week (i was staying in Thornthwaite) and experienced none of the issues talked about in the OP.
I was on a 2007 18" Orange 5 with a 70mm Gravity stem, Kenda Nevs 2.1(Stick-e Front, DTC Rear). I found these tyres great around Whinlatter! I run my shock with at least 30% sag (40% if really rocky). Lots of propedal if smooth, none if not.
Sometimes is best to just get on and ride!