Not every driver has good throttle modulation, some know no difference between WOT and mashing the pedal to the floor. Kick-down, what's that?
I have always found a slight resistance point between WOT and kick-down a good feature, simply like a switch.
I remember having my Cortina GT (with the Weber 28/36 twin choke carb), where even the throttle had a 'hard spot' when you went through to the second choke. Easy to modulate 'economy' driving, on the one choke. Was viewed as a positive feature, a bit more control using the senses, same for kick-down as far as I'm concerned.