Beepster
That handrest/string cover might annoy you though but I'm sure it just pops off with a bit of screw loosening. I like that idea meself because my biggest problem playing bass with my fingers is not having a comfortable place to rest my right hand with out destroying the sound/muffling the strings and proper right hand bass technique wears out my hand/wrist and futzes up any concept of precision. That of course could be remedied with practass but ain't no Beeps got time for dat.
tl;dr
If you got the dough... doooo eeeeeetttt!!!!
I left my hand rest on for a couple of years, when I first got it. It didn't bother me at first. It does kind of force you to play closer to the neck, which gives you a little deeper/ mellower tone. Eventually, I took it off. I find myself bracing my palm more so on the bridge now. I actually like the tone better from that position, you get more of that traditional Rick growl. It also makes it easier to do a little palm muting if necessary.
Flat wounds bring a whole new joy of tone. Think McCartney. Thomastik Infeld strings are very slinky in tension, but awesome in tone. Rotosound Flats have so much tension they feel stiff.
I have always really liked the low action on the Rick; its fast an precise. Not a good slapping Bass, but that has never been my style anyway. I also find that the Bass covers a lot of tones, more than most people give it credit for. It is not the "trebbly" bass that people think of when they hear Chris Squire tones. It stays in tune, incredibly well. I could show up for a gig and never check tuning and be fairly confident that it is dead on tuned.
I am always noticed, because of the way it looks. They do cost a lot, I guess, though you can find Fenders in the same price range. It hold its value and has actually increased in value, since I have owned it.