No new EHBs for 2026: the ones listed in their 2026 announcement appear to be the two EHB600 series basses already announced, in the same two finishes (Walnut Flat and Purist Blue).
Yep - the EMG circuits are comparable to how analog mixers work: buffer / boost weak signals first, then you can mix them with less noise, degradation or signal interaction. The EMG pots are 25kΩ, vs. the 250-500 kΩ used in passive circuits.