I like the DD-65. It's certainly easier than when using a keyboard, and more fun, too.
The "pedals" are just foot switches, and the hat pedal only changes the sound from open to closed. The kick pedal needs a strong boot to get it to make any noise, but I read that real MIDI pedals can be used.
The pads are the opposite; it doesn't take much force at all to max the velocity. That's okay for hard rocking songs, but subtlety will need practice.
Maybe some of you with MIDI drum experience can tell me if this is normal: I often get a 'rebound' note just a few ticks after I hit a pad, always at a velocity of 18. As if the pad rises after the hit and contracts to its normal height, causing a ghost hit.
It's not audible (to me) but it makes editing more tedious. I have been going into the event list and deleting all the vel 18 notes , but I suppose I'll have to set up a MIDI filter to keep those notes from recording.
All in all, I think it will a useful tool.