Traction/ESP on is brutal. I turn mine off each time I get going. Traction when launching is fickle. I have a std. GTI but with a K04, S3 injectors and fmic, upgraded hpfp, tuned plus, and have 330-340bhp...pretty much an ED30 tuned. My launches are quite unimpressive. They might be better with the best traction tires ever to be mounted along with LSD, but I haven't done that yet. All runs have been with my daily street tires. I just looked, unsuccessfully, for a video I saw a long time ago where someone was at the 1/4 track using ESP and going full throttle off the line...it looked as brutal as mine feels when I try it. You just have to learn its traction limit and practice often when you have the chance.
One day with mine at the track for viewing unimpressive launches...
On the road coarse...probably best to evaluate your driving skills while remaining unbiased. Leave the ESP on if you think you might go beyond the limits...but if you know its limits on the coarse, given all current conditions and road knowledge, go on and take ESP off. I drive with ESP off and remain in control on public roads. Sometimes I spin, but it's only because I want to. I just never have to experience the brutality of the front brakes trying to rip off the front end with ESP off. I do have all three up-rated mounts and W.A.L.K., but still if ESP is on you get a brutal response.