I've not ridden the newer Veek with the beak but does it help with airflow as this mabe a function ..?
I know from personal experience the old Vee had terrible aerodynamics , it got very light at higher speeds.
As for wheels, for the road, cast wheels all day long however, purely because I was forced to have spokes, they are on my BMW.
To be fair they are mainly stainless steel and clean up real well and for 5 years old they are holding up pretty good .