Yeah... Rosso vs. Nero is a toss up in my mind, I love both, but there's something about the black one.
Disclosure!!! I am biased
Personally, I'd get the Rosso if money isn't the limiting factor. I recommend to any askers, "go with the Ohlins". And it has the fairing, which I find very functional without ruining the view in any way. If you don't want it, there is always someone looking for one, and you then offset the Rosso's premium asking price.
I don't believe there was any difference in the Sport vs. LeMans frame set ups, it was the year they lengthend the wheel base that was the "big" change. And I don't recall anyone writing up on this, but I think it was possibly Leo Tamers who offered a steering head bearing and race set that put the '03 and later bikes back to the earlier bikes geometry, ??? Best of both worlds???. I saw it when my Nero was newer to me, and after putting miles on it, decided I didn't need it.
$11,000 sounds like he's telling his wife "it is for sale, really... but this economy, etc" in order to keep it. And I can't blame him, cause once you've got your Nero, all the others are simply beautiful, just not the most beautiful... Enjoy the Hunt, S.H.