While Portugal's starting position is not easy, I think the most difficult starting spot is the HRE by far. Portugal does have a somewhat difficult starting spot, but I wouldn't even put it in the top 5 hardest. The HRE has many potential enemies that it has to deal with at once. Dealing with 1 or 2 enemies is not nearly as difficult as fighting 6 at one time.

Plus, if you are winning with Portugal, you have natural borders that you can expand to in the Iberian peninsula. If you are winning with the HRE, you have no natural borders. Not to mention, the Iberian peninsula is a lot more wealthy that the land in central Europe. I am baffled that Portugal has even been veoted for.