If your hob wasn't interested in attacking things with much force then you must have had a pretty lame hob pal! IMO, hobs are a bit more laid back with people, but they certainly don't lack when it comes to aggression with quarry!
He may have been lame like you say but I never had to dig to him, and he always cleared a set so was doing something right. Shame he did a runner but got a kit of him now ready to try later through the year, if he turns out half as good al be a happy man