Well, here's a question- would Active Literate Non-Editing Victory-Seeking Beginner's Mafia need or benefit from its own gametype, or do we just need some sort of Intermediate or Advanced Beginner's Mafia? Or on that note, maybe absolute newbies aren't cut out for regular BMs, and we need some sort of training pool for people who simply don't know what they're doing?
I think it being a different game type is good. As with the hammers, it trains newbies on how different game types or rulesets work, and how strategies need to be adjusted based on that. The VM format also emphasises Day play, rather than power roles, as well as activity; and is small enough, both in number of players and in duration, to grant (as you suggested) immediate feedback and bite-sized results. Hell, if they prove popular we could have two or three concurrent games.
But yeah, a near-mountainous game based on paranormal or salad would be just as good (though not as fast). I'm OK if people prefer that.
Darvi: those points certainly can and should be addressed in a regular BM, but they are not strictly enforced to give a chance for newbies to screw up once or twice without being penalised. They would be more strict in the BVM (if people like the idea). And yes, a cookie for good behaviour is something I suggest and think would be good motivation, but I'm not sure others agree or how to implement it. Suggestions or objections are welcome.