The output ducts close to the furnace are to hot to touch when the furnace is running... it seems to me that I should be able to hold my hand on the ducts without pain... im estimating the duct temp is about 125 degrees

Sounds normal to me... based on houses I have lived in. Thats the point it will be hottest as you loose heat in the ductwork to the registers furthest from the furnace....if it wwas colder at the furnace it would liekly barely be room temprature at the other end of the run.

Are you used to living in a place that had a heat pump? The output temperature of those are significantly cooler.