Analog film photography and cameras

Maybe all the rangefinders I've used have had overly stiff focus mechanisms, but I always found it difficult to quickly change between focus points at opposite ends of the scale, whereas the my olympus and pentax slrs can do this transition really rapidly.

Sounds like the focus barrels are gummed up. They should never move quickly but smoothly and without binding. Have 'em cleaned and freshly lubed with a good damping optical grease.

I do find it slower to find perfect focus with an slr though, but I think this is just because of the way you focus. The slr prism method seems more precise, so I take more time to get it perfect, but in reality a slight error probably won't notice in the final photo if the aperture isn't wide open.

Its false precision.. and its horribly slow.. That's why in motion picture cinematography one focuses with the barrel and not the eye-piece.

Are all rangefinders with decent lenses gurt big heavy things? I found the ones I used are so heavy that walking around the streets for more than a few mins without a strap gets very awkward. Maybe I just need to HTFU...

Rangefinders are not always heavy just some of the best ones were made with stainless steel, brass and chrome. I like Robot cameras but they've also been called a cross between a precision camera and heavy artillery. Given that they've been used for everything from air surveillance, gun cameras, bank security, traffic, instrumentation, science, espionage,... to... they were made to be tough.. and they are.. Leica M cameras too were sold for more than just affluent amateur photographers.. There are, however, a number of small lightweight rangefinders about.. the Vitessa I mentioned is pretty compact and light... It was after all sold as an elegant camera
http://farm1.staticflickr.com/112/287870327_1f4b5d465e_o.jpg with the accessories it ran for over $200 USD back in the early1950s so was clearly aimed at affuent status seekers.. but a great camera with one of the sharpest lenses ever made (double the line pairs of a Tessar).

Strap? Why not a strap.. I also use a wrist strap (chain screwed into tripod thread).