Your right mate, it is pretty easy to wheelie a decent crosser. The principles are just the same although the bikes behave very differently. I can wheelie crossers all day long, but hav'nt plucked up the courage to keep my gixer on one wheel just yet. Totally different ball game on the road though if you make a mistake.

Regarding the bigger rear sproket, my mates K2 thou is 4 up on the rear and its almost impossible to keep the front down when you want to give it some stick. Easier to wheelie yes, but not as nice to ride in my opinion.