Well there is documentation that the spool up time is slower in the 14 vs the 18... who has it wrong in DCS.. I wont get into.
The DLC is really there to fight ground effect when landing on the field. Just so happens it helps in other scenarios to but it exists because the plane doesnt want to land, she likes to float. I find certain aspects of landing in a case i harder in the 14, and others easier. DLC is great not so much for the lift control vertically, but changing the lift vector in a bank when doing the approach turn. If you are turning wide, you can put your DLC down and get a bit extra inside turning room without changing your AOB... turning to short, extend DLC to push yourself out.
The tricky thing with landing for me is ignoring the hud, infact, turning it off is probably the better way to land, having the TVV offset 5 degrees drives me crazy.