I recently purchased the HWW version you are considering. I was very happy and impressed with the fit and finish. I highly recommend it. The price with shipping was very reasonable for what you are getting.
There are a number of folks who mortise the fixed jaw flush with the bench front. I didn't bother doing tgat. I figured that for the few times I need to clamp something along the front skirt, it would be easier to make a jig that would hang off the front dog holes. I did have to remove the top drawer under the bench to allow for the scew/ beam to pivot downward when pivoting the vise upward. Was well worth losing a drawer that was difficult to access under the front vise to begin with.
No, the sky is not falling - just chunks of it are.