one cam spins easier than the other...?

[free5ty1e]

when I did my timing belt change I noticed that the passenger side cam spun very easily between lobes, way too easily - the driver side felt like a normal camshaft turning, it provided resistance for the entire rotation. My compression test yielded no "service cylinder X soon" results, and the car seems to drive OK, and there is no audible clatter from the valves... do we have springs in there, or hydraulic lifters...? Is the lack of resistance between lobes normal on these engines, or should there be resistance all the way around? Either way - one side of my engine isn't right somehow.

Any ideas?

edit: I should add that my boost gauge does read a good -21mm Hg of vaccuum during in-gear deceleration, and -19 or so for idling. That information might be useful for this question.