ddiddler: "they use a different bridge which purports to increase string tension."

That's your answer right there.  My OM acoustic has way more tension than my Blues acoustic, so much so that I can barely get a 1-fret bend out of it.  It's a different instrument that needs to be approached differently, but it sounds amazing.  So instead of bends I use slides, and even then don't use those as much.  I don't know the technicalities of why it has much more tension

A possible way round it is to
* tune all strings 1 fret lower (Eb Standard)
* put a capo on the 1st fret

You should have a guitar that is still in E-Standard tuning but you will have to be aware that everything is up 1-fret when practicing/playing

Alternatively your nut may be badly setup and the grooves are so high up it takes a lot more pressure to fret on the headstock end.  Maybe ask in the guitar tech thread for advice?