How is the playability for your fretting hand? How is the action compared to a GA and GC? Anyone try tuning down a half step? The reason for the questions is I own a Taylor 12 fret GC Mahogany/Cedar that easier than any acoustic I've played. Very low action and no buzz. It's basically a fingerstyle guitar. It's a decent for light to medium strummer also. I'd love to add a x18 to go with my 12 fret, but only if the playability is good for my fretting hand. Arthritis is the problem.
It depends on the setup and string gauge. I always setup my guitars by myself adjusting the nut and saddle.
Usually, Taylor guitars do not need big effort. Most of the time, cutting the nut slots a bit deeper on some strings and slightly sanding down the saddle should be enough.
With GO, it comes with medium gauge strings, so you may want to change them to light gauge with some volume reduction.
But after appropriate setup, medium gauge strings are not problem for my playing.