I have handled all of the knives shown on badmojo under the fusion line.
I also have at least one of all of the Badger Attack configurations except the very earliest without the guard hole. Of all of these BA's I like the "feel" of the new badger best. The new badger has the feel of a slightly bigger knife than the BA III, and a slightly wider blade. It will be more of an all-round use blade than the BA III, IMO.
However, you do not need to forego the NO to wait for a badger. You need both. Why should you not be penniless like the rest of us?
My advice - buy at least one of each of the new knives as they come out.
I bought my first Busse in 1994, and if I could go back to that time knowing what I do now, this is exactly what I would do.
Buy it. Avoid really weird coating/handle combinations, and if you do not like it, post it for sale in new unused condition for what you paid for it. Someone will buy it to avoid the wait for a shop order.
Alternatively, go to Blade 2004 and handle all of them. But you will not be sorry if you go ahead and buy the NO.