MORE moderate! I have an 8ft 4wt Avid which is moderate enough. I sold my 9ft 9wt Avid as too soft and have cast a 9ft 5wt Avid which was also too soft. (I also have a 2 LU - old style - and and Imperial.) My opinion is that for the Avid and Imperial they are both too wobbly when over 8ft long.
If LUs are going to be on sale as discontinued, I would recommend seeing if you like them. IMO the 9ft 5wt is excellent, but the 7wt is a tad heavy in the hand on long casts - but for steelhead it is perfect as we don't cast far for them here in Ontario.