You wrote, "They will be judged very differently, imo, by their electors. " That's a great point, they now have to deliver on their promises and with the conditions of the Palestinians it won't be an easy job.
One of your other points
"And lastly, hard not to agree that yesterday's terrorist is sometimes today's government"
Agreed I guess my trepidation is that Hamas won't renounce it's commitment to destroy Israel... Hopefully my concern will be proved groundless.