You do know those 20 models can get the new quartz radome and be BVR capable, right? It was the original composite cone which was interfering with it's radar.
Here's an older LSP with the new cone trialing with BVR. Even the refueling probe can be retrofitted.
About operational mission, these birds have just been inducted. IAF airmen are playing around with the birds as we speak. Again, even with operating the regular Su30s, the MKIs coming out of HAL were stationed near Nasik in Maharashtra for the very reasons stated in the article.