The desert races here in AZ are usually 3 or 4 lap races, 25 to 40 miles per lap. For me the YZ was easier to ride as the suspension had a thousand bucks worth of work done to it before I bought the bike. I'm sure the KTM would have been just as good with that much in the suspension, but I didn't want my hobby to be that expensive. In the really fast stuff, either bike goes faster than I'll let it. My YZ had some head work done, a 420 kit installed and a big gun pipe also. The KTM had more low torque, but top power was pretty similar. The big gun pipe seems to give the YZ smoother power than other pipes. I did not ever really notice big hit power on my YZ, but I think the engine mods helped smooth things out.
Answers to your questions:
Was I that much faster on the KTM? No, I was faster on the YZ. It turns better and has better suspension.
Is the KTM easier to ride? No, The suspension in the front dives really bad, is way too harsh on small stuff, and way to soft for big hits. The KTM is a lot narrower and lighter feeling. I'm used to big fat 4 strokes (I've been riding for 25 years and never owned a 2 stroke), so that does not matter to me.
The KTM suspension is said to be for 160-170lb riders. If you fall in that catagory it may work well for you out of the box. I'd say for 2000+ extra the KTM is too much. It is a gamble I will not take again. With the 2000 bucks you will save you can have the best suspension around, aluminum bars, steering stabilizer kit, aftermarket pipe and 900 bucks in your pocket.