I think I'm the exception to the rule because my second birth turned into a c-section.
That said, I was definately more confident and empowered the second time around so even though the outcome wasn't what I wanted I didn't feel so traumatised by the hospital experience.
Same thing happened to me.
But it was an emergency c/section so I did labour before it - and the labour part was much, much quicker the second time.
I dilated to 7cm in a few hours, where in my first labour to get that far it took me about 12 hours.
I think had I not had the c/section my second birth would have been much shorter, if not easier but there's no way of knowing.
Birth can be a bit unpredictable