Disagree. The ones I have all come much looser than a stock sanwa.
I wouldn't recommend a person new on sticks try a different one until they're used to playing on one. For a new person, I don't think it'd make much difference. Could be that he's pressing far too hard and not letting it return to neutral for inputs, or just putting far more weight on it in general, "riding the gate." Could be that he's just not used to sticks and needs to take some time to get acclimated.
It's true you have to learn to use a stick at first, but all the levers feel so different I think he should find one he likes first, and practice on that.