Linjo,
I don't think I can agree with you here. At least some of the new features are options, to be enabled or otherwise configured in a VM before they can be any good to use. If the Client can't do the job, the presence of the features in the ESXi host is worthless. Now, only the Web Client available via the paid vCenter Server can configure the new features in a conventional and supported way. Please correct me if I'm wrong.
That being said, I'll be more than happy to be editing my vmx files by hand if you point me out at a complete documentation on the vmx-9 options.
Thanks!