I'm mostly a Telecaster player. One thing I don't like about the Strat is the smooth, comfy curves. I can't feel where the guitar is relative to my torso or my forearm, which costs me control and accuracy. The squared edges of a Telecaster dig into my ribs and arm, and I have a better sense of what I'm doing.
Les Pauls drive me nuts due to the lack of dynamics. Marshall amps, too. My favorite combination is a Telecaster into a vintage Mesa. The thing about Teles and Mesas is "all the way up" == "too much". They're happier with the control knobs backed off some. And picking? A little dynamic slip and it sounds like a gun going off by your ear. Forces you to be controlled!
+1 for telecaster "shape" -- I grew up on Strats, but play a thin line Tele most of the time now. I concur with your assessment of being able to "feel" where it is.
Les Pauls drive me nuts due to the lack of dynamics. Marshall amps, too. My favorite combination is a Telecaster into a vintage Mesa. The thing about Teles and Mesas is "all the way up" == "too much". They're happier with the control knobs backed off some. And picking? A little dynamic slip and it sounds like a gun going off by your ear. Forces you to be controlled!