I think it's worth the trade-off for no leaking issues, better flavor, easier to fill, and compact sizing. Trust me when I say you'll likely will not be using it at 40w. It's warm at 20-30watts as is.
The build deck is better too. I know the post holes and juice channels being off-set bothered a few people. It's all centered now, but airflow is slightly more restrictive than the original. At the same time, the whole tank comes apart for easy cleaning and drying.