Already said a time or two, but I am in the firm and stiff = happy camp.
I like about a 7-8 pull.
All my GEC's are at or below this. I had one #73 that was a bit above when new. It also had an inconsistent blade pull. It would be fine one pull, then much harder, and not smooth the next.
I kept at it, and it spit out a metal shaving out the top. It was the metal on metal with a bit of metal stuck in between that was causing the issue. Now they are both about a 6-7. That same blade, that I can open with literally any fingernail, including my pinky nail, is a "nail breaker" for my big police officer swat team friend! He handed it back and said he could not open it, and it bent his nail. I opened it with my pinky, and handed it back.
So it is all relative. I believe many of others nail breakers would be just where I want it.
I have all about 7 GEC, in years from 2007 up, and they are all great for me pull wise (and fit and finish wise too). I have a couple scouts, pioneers, #25 (barlow), Sunfish patterns, so I am no high volume expert, but I sure love them!
The only GEC pull I did not love was a Tideoute #25 in Bocote. It was a bit soft for me, but perfect for my dad (probably about a 4-5 on my scale). I had purchased it for him as a gift, so it was a great coincidence.
My hardest pull is on a Burke/Queen collab Grandaddy Barlow. My worst pulls are also on a queen, a Pardue/Queen canoe pattern. The snap was pretty week on one, bit better on the other spear, and perfect on the coping blade. The blades had a wiggle, so I tightened the bolsters and peened the pin. The snap is basically non existent now. I will have to spend some serious time working those blades to get them to loosed a tiny bit so they have a bit of snap again.