Yes. Even with more time, it would have been tough to wind down David Brent to a Michael Scott level of dickishness. I suspect in developing the US version they aimed for a higher level of likeability so they could sustain it for a longer run.

The initial version of Michael Scott (slicked back hair), was probably a little too much of a dick for the US, but was still pretty mild compared with David Brent. Both Brent and Scott had a huge level of insecurity, but Brent was much more likely to lash out with cruelty when he was the butt of a joke.

I remembered Brent as a likeable character. And he has his moments. But he's a truly awful person.