I just wanted to add my thoughts on the Rustler 9 as I bought a pair in 180cm and spent the weekend skiing them. I'm 220# 6' tall and mounted them with a set of Solomon Shift bindings and was using Solomon S/Lab MTN boots. In all honesty I think I prolly should have gone with the 188, but whatever. I really wanted to be able to use my MTN boots more because they just work better for patrolling, keeping my feet dryer, and warmer compared to my super awesome Lange XT 130's.. I purchased the Rustlers and chose the bindings specifically because I wanted a lighter, playful, but still capable ski to use when patrolling and skiing with family. Conditions for the weekend was 2" of fresh dense snow on top of groomed that slowly went to soft crud and then to hard crud as the weekend went on.
First day on them and I have overtuned them during my first wax and tune on them.. out of the wrapper they were 1/3 and somewhat rough, so I polished and evened out the edges. Anyways on the snow that first day, the skis just don't want to release from turns, not at all what i would consider "playful" ski that everyone else has described them as. I felt just disconnected with the ski and like I was along for the ride, it could have been the boots as I have not skied them since November (I've used them for lite touring, but not for resort skiing) Anyways, I was disappointed that the skis didn't live up to my ideals that day.
Day 2, I took them home and took a stone to the edges and detuned them quite aggressively to about 2 inches beyond the rocker line towards the center of the ski. This totally changed the ski and loosened up its crazy turn lock in, I could now disengage a turn much easier and control the turn shape more. I also discovered the turn shapes and turn style that they liked, moderate speed and short to medium radius turns with just enough energy coming out of the turns that it's fun but not so much that you get kicked out. The Rustler 9 can go fast and rip large turns, but for me it felt nervous and not well planted while doing so. It didn't do so well with hardened crud, but was fine with soft crud. I've never skied a Blizzard ski before and it felt different, it felt smooth.
Who's it for: A directional skier who wants to dabble with a freeride type ski but still carve a great turn on groomers.
Who is it not for: A big skier who wants to go fast and rip long turns, get an Enforcer if you want that.
Pro tip: Mount on the line and detune those tips and tails to loosen the ski up if you want it more like a directional hard snow freeride ski.
I experienced a few of the same symptoms with my Rustler 9 that have now been eliminated with a base grind to first flatten the bases/edges and then hand tune a 1/3 tune sharp tip to tail.
Chased my tail for a few years till I learned to check edge/base flatness first, then set edge levels and detune if still needed. Kept detuning skis to make them playful then they didn’t grip well when the real issue was edge high sections of the ski.
In the case of my last few skis including the Rustler 9, I found they were a few edge high sections in the tip/tail area that I flat filed smooth before then setting base/edge levels. Found my Rustlers very playful and easy to ski but they weren’t that stable feeling over variable snow especially at speed. Like you, I thought it “must be that I’m not used to them” or something but I didn’t have the same issues on other skis I took out those days.
I did notice they were a touch base high underfoot so I got them lightly base ground flat. They just needed a mild edge touch up on my 1/3 tune and only detuned the area in front of the taper to cut down on top sheet chipping. Like a different ski now! Have LOADS of grip on hard/mixed snow yet can carve, slarve etc. and I live at 45-55mph. More stable and planted regardless of speed or snow conditions.
Really enjoying them now so I’d be curious how flat your bases and edges are because mine have been transformed with just a light grind.