I was a huge fan of MCZ's small form factor. You know, the one they used first for the SFIV FightStick, then the TvC sticks for Wii, and finally the WWE BrawlStick. Super-easy to mod, super-portable, no compromises. Definitely one of my favorites.
So I'm kind of excited to see that they're releasing another small stick. But it's hard for me to judge exactly how large or small this one is just based on those pictures. My guess is that IF (and only if) they're using standard-sized 30mm buttons again, they ought to be moddable just like before.
Also: the MSRP on the BrawlSticks was $80 as well. Then, there were deep discounts around the time of major tournaments and/or holidays. Finally, they dropped to $30-40 when on clearance. So if you're curious about it, but not curious enough to pre-order, I'd expect that history will repeat itself. These might be good sticks to take on the road, or for the occasional Player 2.