A new version has come out in 2023. It looks fantastic and I'm really lusting for it.

Could you comment on my two main concerns:
1) It is billed as a structured bag. I fly RyanAir regularly and the bag is 3cm/1.25" too long for their free bag policy. This could lead to expensive gate check fees, I've seen it happen before. Can the bag be compressed by as much, or will the structural elements prevent this?
2) How cavernous is that back space? On short flights, I'd use that space to pack some clothes or random things. On long flights, I'd pack it with plastic boxes containing healthy snacks and stuff.

Given my location (Thailand), I can't really try this bag out before I buy it. So I'm trying to reduce my risk in asking a friend to carry one over.