The previous regular release 0S is IMO, the best Valk made out of all the ones I own. I think it is just about the exact same height as the 1/48 VF-1...I have mine standing next to a 1/48 right now so I can confirm later on.
Yeah, it should be. See above.
This one has more tampo printing on it. It's not twice as much as the previous release, even if you bought the previous one on clearance. And yes, I hesitated a bit but I did fall for it this time.