Smaller mAh batteries like a typical 65mm with 180mAh can be damaged by the high power drain from a LR atomizer. They will wear out more quickly, and you will get fewer charge cycles out of them. But that doesn't affect the flavor, and our 65mm batts are 220mAh anyway.
I suspect you were using a brand new atomizer and were tasting the primer fluid the factories use to test in the factory and to keep the wick moist during shipment. The fluid itself is just a 0-nic e-liquid, usually tobacco flavor, or at least that's what I've seen being used.
But still, most people complain about the taste of the first couple of cartridges on a new atomizer, and the general wisdom is that it's the primer fluid to blame, so there may be some other sort of residue on the new atomizers that the primer fluid picks up.
As for why you thought the vapor tasted tasteless after getting past the bad taste, that I can't explain. Maybe you shocked your tastebuds into a retreat?
Put it down for a while and try again later. That helps surprisingly often when it comes to taste issues.