A couple of things:
Games that stream heavily off the UMD perform worse as CSOs than ISOs, typically.
If you're running the game as an ISO and are still experiencing problems, you might need to look into the fatmsmod patch, available on Dark-Alex's website. The newest version he's got up was created for 3.80 M33/3.90 M33, but if you install it carefully, it'll work just fine on 4.01 M33. Just make sure to use a decrypted PRX. Otherwise you'll brick your PSP.
Pandora-proof batteries aren't really new. And they aren't much of a barrier in any event, since you can still make do with older batteries or third party Pandoras.
The newest thing seems to be a revised Slim mobo that, for now, defeats Pandoras. If I'm not mistaken, Dark-Alex has indicated that it will be possible to circumvent this new protection. I don't think he's had much time or inclination to look very deeply into it, for now. They might have to come up with a new IPL specifically for this new mobo.
I do not know of any way to tell which bundles have the new mobo. Chances are, the newer the bundle, the worse your chances.