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I'll try and answer all the questions in one post:
Internal parts are very similar. The one way roller bearing has been moved to a different spot to make the reel stronger. Ya know how the bailess reel's rotor has some "give" to it when you twist it backwards? That's your drivetrain flexing. This reel doesn't do that.
Bigger reels are on the horizon, no dates though. Just the 100 and 150 for now.
Why add a bail? I kind of had the same reaction, but it's more of a "different strokes for different folks sort of thing." Some people have refused to buy a VS over the years due to the lack of a bail. Same thing with the skirted spool. Anyone can work a bailed reel, but you just can't hand someone a bailess reel and expect them to be good with it. Ever fish for tuna bailess? You gotta be fast, you instantly have to get that lure moving and hopefully they won't grab it while the line is still on your finger. I know someone who got a good look at the bone in his finger this year fishing for tuna with a VS.
I wouldn't worry about the bail, it's all titanium and extremely rugged. Could it fail? Time will tell, but they didn't take making a bailed reel lightly. When you feel the bail flip over in your hands you'll understand just how heavily it's built. It's a manual bail like the Saltiga, it doesn't flip when you turn the handle. The rotor is all machined, there is no cast metal. I don't see it popping over accidently for any reason; it opens very positively yet closes easily. It feels exactly like you'd want it to.
I'm not sure about prices, but I think they are coming in around the Saltiga, $650 or so.
The handle won't be available right away for the bailess reel, but they do retro-fit and they intend to release them for that reason.
The bailed reel is close, there are a few tweaks to be made but they are aiming to have them out before X-mas. Basically it's in final testing now.
It looks like it's going to be warm and windy tomorrow, the reel better be ready to get REAL wet. I'm going swimming...
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