It is normal, theres alot of threads about people with Golf R's with the same
problem, I guess some people don't realise it if they didn't come from a similar car.
I think its just to force you to set off smoothly and gradually instead of gunning it from a standing start, but it just makes it feel sluggish and half the pedal does nothing. I guess its something to do with how they managed to give it such high MPG figures as well.
Apparently a DTUK/Racechip pedal box helps alot but they are about £200.