Always prefer a hard copy as you feel you are actually getting something for your money. Normally transfer the cd to my high-def portable player for private listening.
I would say that having has a guitar voted the best 5 string bu the British bass press (BGM) and with the variety of builds he can offer ACG have to be up there.
I've got the VT1 Spitfire so the manual should be the same. Drop me a PM with your email address and I'll send you a pdf, or post a hard copy if preferred.
I have two ACG's with flat fingerboards and like this feature a lot, so much so that I when I play a bass with a radius it takes a bit of getting used to.
The short scale ACG's ead was talking about are typically 7.5 to 8lbs in weight. I have 30.5" Skelf and TKO.
ACG currently have a Border Reiver headless 32" scale for sale on their website. That should be reasonably lightweight.
http://www.acguitars.co.uk/project/0310brss4/
I use a Markbass Blackline 250 as a backup. Nice little amp which would suit the three styles (originals, covers....) you mentioned earlier regarding styles plus it's lightweight.
I went on the Status website the other day and they appear to have mostly round wounds but state that they are hoping to fulfill the rest of the range shortly.