Ok, this new (to me) 2012 w/7k miles has some of the worst feeling brakes i've ever felt on a big modern bike. [...]
Or is this just how this linked brake system operates?
No, that doesn't sound normal at all. The Concours has strong, good brakes. That bike has not many miles, so my guesses would be old brake fluid and/or glazed/contaminated front rotors and/or pads. Since the fluid is likely 8 years old, you should change it, for sure. Then I would clean the rotors and see how it is. Then look at pads.
Linked brakes is a different topic. Set it to "low linked" mode (which is not the default, but it will remember that mode once set... unless the battery is ever disconnected, I believe).