Yes the new pads are like fluffy little clouds vs. stiff horrid hair-yankers. They have said you can remove the pads from the old and use without but my son hated the seat with no pads. They have also said you would be able to buy the new pads but as of about a month ago they only had one color for sale. I have read of people calling chicco who just bought the seat with the old pads and buckle and chicco sending the new ones free but I had no such luck - the new buckle is $15 plus shipping, the new pads in the color I needed were not yet available, if they were they would have been $5, but then there is tax and shipping, so you're looking at in the end about $30 to upgrade a brand new seat, which I think is kind of nuts. I got one from BRU in the trade in (I looooove the Pulse) and I got a studio from Albeebaby when they were doing 20% off, figuring they probably move stock fast because of their prices - and it was a Nov date so, very happy. They make a WORLD of difference.
I am keeping a radian around in case the nextfit proves to be too close quarters as my son gets older but at going on 3 he fits like the seat was custom made for him. He loves it. And you can't beat the install with latch. I am amazed every time I pull that super cinch strap. They did something magical there. I am also able, with brave effort, to remove the whole shebang from the van if he falls asleep 5- it is round and slippery to grab but it stands up no matter where you put it down so that is nice.