Sounds like a much better fit, and I like your attitude. Senior students who make themselves feel better by beating on newbies just shouldn't happen. Allowing that in a class just breeds a toxic atmosphere. It's all too easy for people used to a fixed exercise to do that, even if they would get their butts handed to them in unscripted sparring. And don't forget - being able to do high kicks hard and fast will only make your low kicks even more powerful. Strength and flexibility are intertwined, inseparable really, so extending your range of motion with high kicks will only make your low kicks that much better.
