A lot of it has to do with the cable setup. A directly linked shifter would give better feel, a weighted shifter knob would have better feel, I suggest taking apart the shifter and replacing the bushings and tightening it up. The shifter on top of the transmission also has some bushings that can be replaced. Try changing your transmission fluid.
I don't like short shifters, some are just shortened shifters by cutting the shifter shaft down, this does nothing. What you have to do is shorten the throw by modifying the metal shifter assembly on top of the transmission to change the throw.