When I first got my 06 it was only 500 mi used, but had sat somewhere for the better part of a year. Probably some guy who yes was too scared of the power, or not used to not having traction control, or not used to that kind of real race car ride.
I have a Corvette as a daily driver, and in 'Competitive Mode' it lets you get real wild with the rear end before it reels you in. I find this to have been the best 'training wheels' mode ever in a car, since it really lets you play with handing the ass end out, which I do around like every corner, just for fun.
Knowing over and over and over what the car 'feels' like when the wheels break loose, before the ass end even starts to move, is important. Driving the Viper, I feel the wheels breaking loose CONSTANTLY, and am generally quick to make throttle and sterring adjustments before it gets way out, since there ain't no computer to reign you in!
But yes, if you're not used to having done that 1,000 times in a car, and are used to just 'flooring it around the corners' the Viper will make you crap your pants in just a few short test drives. You've got be instinctive with it, and that takes a lot of years of posi action kickin it out yo.
Also for the speed feel, amazingly the Viper is even faster than it feels IMO. The chasis hides the speed very well, and even acceleration. I remember taking mine for a test drive after it got shipped to my local dealership, just to see if anything needed to be fixed asap under warranty.
As I came around a u-turn and onto the highway access road, I got on the throttle what I deemed to be fairly hard, and I pulled through a few gears and thought something was wrong with the engine or whatever, because I felt like I was barely getting up to like 40 or 45 mph. As I looked down I saw i was doing 85 - 90mph!!
I've driven alot of high end sports cars, including Ferrari's and Lambos, and I don't remember ever having a Twilight Zone moment like that. So again, the car will get the uninitiated into trouble real quick, since you won't even realize you've already gotten the car up to like 90 mph before potentially doing something stupid.
Gotta keep an eye on this car man, it's a beast!!!
As a side note on the Vette, I couldn't ever imagine owning a Z06, since it's basically the same chassis and interior, and every time I get out of the Viper and back into my Vette, I feel like I'm getting into a Honda Accord! Funny but true, the Vette just has a cheesy feel to it compared to spending some serious cockpit time in the Viper.
The Viper is now hands down the best performing balls out sports car you can buy without spending more than $300,000. But in the process of saving $220,000 you do lose some finesse, and you better have some balls man to ride this bull.
It scares the heck out of them and they put it back on the market. 
I don't blame them since in the GTS it makes over 350 ft-lbs of torque at around 1500 rpm.
