Hard to tell from your pictures, but as a general rule you might want to check the magnet poles for mushrooming. Once they get to a certain point where they are digging into wood it can be a real chore to get them out. You can't just take out the whole assembly from the bottom if the magnet if grabbing the top of the playfield. Stern puts so much locktite on them at the factory that you can't always loosen the poles in the game to take them out through the top.

When I get a used game like IM, I try to take the magnet poles out and file the mushrooming off whether they really need it or not, just to make sure I break the factory locktite and can get them in and out with a reasonable effort in the future. Last thing I want to do is break out a torch or impact wrench to take out a magnet...

I just joined the club last night. I brought home an IMVE with less than 400 total plays. Already ordered a handful of mods including Flipper Fidelity speakers, playfield service rails and a shaker. I played it last night until my arms were sore.

I never really liked IM until I had one a while back to shop out for a friend. After it left here I started missing it more and more until I couldn't take it any more. Now I'm happy again!

Which songs got replaced in that version? I'm interested but I really like the intro music when you first hit the start button.

I sought out a VE for all the reasons you mentioned. I do really like the metal backbox and love the cabinet art. The tilted DMD panel looks better and has much less DMD reflection on the playfield glass. One thing you didn't mention is that the games are four years newer and therefore most likely less games played on them. Mine only had a couple hundred games when I got it and looked like new. Not sure if there is a difference, but the clearcoat looks amazing. The LEDs are also really nice and they are all sockets in case you do want to modify something.
Edit: I should mention that I had a friend's original IM for a short while before I bought mine. It was updated with very well done LEDs. It played beautifully and I certainly would have been happy with an original as well. The game play is identical between the two.