Yamaha DTXpress/DTXplorer/DTXtreme

i have a dtx2 but the interface is almost the same so im hoping 
you will still be able to help me:

i have quite a heavy hitter and feel that i cannot get as much 
expression from the drums (ei - they wont go louder when i hit 
them harder) and im not quite sure on how i should go about 
adjusting them to make them do this - everyhting i seem to do 
makes it worse.

also, my hi-hat is level and i hit the side of it much like the way a 
normal one is played however the rim does not respond like the 
middle of the pad so i cannot trigger the closed/open sounds 
without hitting the top - can i just change the sounds around or 
will i need to re-arrange my drum kit - one i dea i had was to 
make a cable where the two sterio bits swap around so the DTX 
thinks the outside is the inside and the same the other way 
around - will this work?

thanks