What to be mindful of with cake flour
Cake flour is mainly used in situations where less gluten is desired, that's why the pancake was more tender.  Cake flour is also lighter in color and texture, since it is usually bleached.  It is also milled finer.  If you are substituting cake for AP flour, you will probably need a couple of additional tablespoons of cake flour per cup of AP flour.  Leave your leavening as is.