Those people who said they like the sound of heavier strings but their hands wouldn't tolerate them - did you have the instrument set up for the heavier strings? If it's set up right for lights, the action will be difficult with mediums - more pull on the neck puts more curve in it, the action comes up. Other way around, an instrument set up for mediums will feel silky with lights - but you may get buzzing if you try to play above a whisper.

Of course, there are relatively few guitars tough enough for heavy gauge strings, unless you're playing in a lower tuning or stringing a twelve as a six. That's why there are so few of them (heavy strings) on the market. Martin expressly says "no heavier than medium" on pretty much all of their new instruments. This is particularly a concern if the instrument has scalloped bracing.

Peter.