Personally, I don't believe it. Rumors like this have been circulating for years, even the ones that supposedly come from Honda insiders. Honda is going to offer a plated 650R(
that would make more sense than a 450), Honda is going to stop making the 650L, The 650L is going to get EFI, Honda is going to offer a plated 450/250/whatever. The biggest thing Honda has done in the last 15 years regarding a decent plated bike is drop the 250L and change the 650L's colors. I'm not sure why the 230L is even in the lineup.
As far as weight, ton of it comes from the e-start junk they always pour onto street-legal models. In the 650L's case, the engine alone has 15-20lbs on an XR600. Some weight like the battery and lights is inescapable due to DOT requirements, but a lot of it is not IMO.
Too soft or ? My 85 xr600 was like a Cadillac compared to the previous dual shock bikes I've owned.
It is quite soft, the (conventional) fork is flexy, and I think there is no rebound adjustment. The 650L's suspension is still a lot better than your 600's, though, just like your 600's suspension is better than what was offered 10 years prior. I think the 600's damper rod fork got dropped in favor of a cartridge type some time between '88 and 91. The XRs are also a helluva lot more comfortable on the slab than an MXer with a seat that was never designed to be sat on.