I've got one reserved with my LBS after seeing the details this last weekend and will be selling my transition relay in order to make room. The geo is pretty predictable if you have followed SC over the years and has the same type's of iteration on the vala geometry that you would expect. For example, extrapolate the same types of changes that you see when going from a 5010 to a bronson and apply that to what you see on the vala geo page. It's basically a horst link nomad with a motor.
The builds are slightly whack in the same way that the builds of the vala are slightly whack. Meh e13 hubs, brakes are too low of a tier for the cost on every single bike in the range, the usage of arc offset hoops baffles me when the sc reserve AL|HD are superior and 9,500 for an aluminum bar is a bummer. I won't comment on the drivetrain offerings, but yes something is coming soon for the mid range and this bike will have it.
Overall, I'm not a huge fan of SC builds at the moment and the pricing is insane... that being said, I tried an orbea and I tried a transition ebike and there is a reason that I am coming back to the build quality of Santacruz. I just want a bike that works, does not have super annoying design/build quality issues. Santacruz + Bosch motor = exactly that.
Regarding the WH situation... I've spent a decent amount of time on vala demo's. Most of my ebike rides are 5,000+ elevation gain. 600wh + 250re is just about perfect for me. If I want more, I can just buy a second range extender and carry that with me the same way I used to do the same on my orbea rise. Range on the vala is more then enough when riding in tour+ or emtb and power is insane in turbo. I can easily ride the vala in tour+ and get 7k of elevation gain with the 600wh + RE and I am absolutely knackered by the time the batteries are flat.