The pads are more on the stiffer side, a bit like in Ableton Push maybe? However the general whining about the pads has quieted down somewhat, no doubt the pads get looser in use over time. I find the pads on my Trigger Finger Pro to be much nicer, not to mention the pads on the AR are tiny (hard to pull off flams on em IMO)
If the pads are a huge concern you need to use an external pad controller, like the korg padkontrol or the TFP. Or you can consider going for the tempest instead, I hear nothing but praise about its pads, but of course its a whole another piece of drum synthesis (and no custom samples either)