I have an LWB, and believe me, there was a learning curve. OK, it could have something to do with the fact that I hadn't ridden a bike of any kind in 15 years when I bought my 'bent, but still it was definitely a different experience. I did manage to ride the thing 20 miles home the first day I got it, so it wasn't impossible, but the first day was definitely hairy. I was gripping the handlebars so tightly I nearly pulled off the rubber thingys on them.
It took me a couple of months before I was as smooth on my bent as I had been on my DF 15 years ago.
Now, 1900 miles later, I'm happy as a clam with my purchase.
Oh, and the hills -- that's where I pass most of the roadies. That doesn't mean that a 6% grade 3 miles long isn't a hell of a challenge, but the average shorter hills, where you can get a decent head of steam going into them -- no problem at all.