[Compos Mentis]

This sounds like a synchronization issue. There have been posts that keeping on the gas longer keeps the RPM up to match 2nd gear, or wind out to higher RPMs before shifting so RPMs stays high during the shift.. This IS completely what a modern synchronized transmission is supposed to do for you, but you play the cards you're delt.
A older German friend was telling me about the old unsychronized days, and about RPM matching to shift without clutching. Ouch!
I am mildly disappointed in the shifting, but I'm getting better. I'm skeptical of the CDV mod, but open minded. The CDV is not a syncho issue that I can tell.
CM