I purchased an early 2011 13" MBP last summer. The build quality seems to be better than my early 2008 pre-unibody 15" MBP. The 13" MBP is the coolest-running portable Mac that I have owned. (G3 iBook, G4 iBook, 15" MBP.)
I prefer anti-glare displays but I didn't want another 15" because of the size. And I don't care for the high-resolution display. I added a $35 Power Support anti-glare film to the 13" MBP as soon as it came out of its box. The Power Support film isn't the cheapest but I think that it's the best option: it doesn't introduce visible artifacts or color-shifts. When compared side-by-side to my matte display 15" MBP the displays are nearly identical in appearance. I use the same film on my iPad.
Most of the time I use the MBP connected to a high-end NEC 2490WUXi2 display in clamshell mode.
I'm in the market for another 13" MBP. Thanks for the clarification regarding the Ivy Bridge specs. I was going to wait but now i think that I will keep looking for a good deal on an early 2011 model. I snagged my MBP for $900 during an Amazon sale so I am bit spoiled price-wise.