This has been my experience as well. I have not used it in a very long time, so I am wondering how i'd respond to it these days. It's all in the context of why you use it though, as you stated. I liked it as a hardening compound the final weeks of a cutting phase, along with the increased sex drive. Outside of that, I have not used it much. I was able to tell a big difference with it in though....from those parameters.
I would never use it as a compound for growth. Price and availability have been issues over the years, and i'm not sure where that is at these days. If you have a good UG who tests their raws, then it should be gtg. If not, or if they lie and say they do, then it's anybody's guess on whether it is legit or properly dosed.