Some questions regarding HTC wildfire s & S-off

[Romonster]

I was going to buy Wildfire S for my sis. But today when I read its rooting guide I found out that it can not be rooted normally (I need to buy some xtc clipper to s-off )
So there isn't any other way to root it?

If it can not be rooted then how is its stock performance? Does it lag much?

I keep telling her to get Defy but she says it looks fat and ugly.... Lol girls.
As I haven't seen Defy in person does it really look ugly?