I have an ES-335 112-string. It’s a challenge to tune (more then 2x the effort of a 6-string, IMO) but sounds just amazing when plugged in. They are definitely “their own thing” but as the OP said, a great deal of fun. That said, he’s probably having more of a challenge playing it fingerstyle than I am strumming with a pick.
One day I was in the local guitar shop, and one of the employees was behind the counter working on one. I said “tuning a 12-string?” He said “yeah, I’ll be here all afternoon.”
I have owned a Yamaha FG 312 since the late 1980s. I have always been a big Byrds/Roger McGuinn fan and back then I read that the Rick 12 is strung differently to other 12s in that the top 4 pairs have the low octave on top.
So I thought I would try that on the Yamaha and had the nut replaced to fit the top 4 strings reversed.
I definitely liked the sound it gave and have left it like that. Playing a 12 is definitely a whole different thing especially if you like to fingerpick. Your fretting hand has more effort to put in, holding two strings down. And as for barre chords…
The old FGs are cool. I would like to pick up a sweet 1970s FG. Maybe not a 12 string. Very interesting way to set up the strings. Remeinds me of Dick Dales set up… sort of.