There shouldn't be any performance difference. They would both be full waterblock. It would just be down to radiator, reservoir and fans.

While I love the hydro copper it always comes out so late after a cards release and then is extremely hard to find in stock. I just buy a vanilla card and slap a block on myself.

One of the reasons I like the HCs is the spacing between inlet and outlet. I'm using some Monsoon 90D light port fittings and it's a bit difficult to switch over to the closer port water blocks as it would require a good amount of tube routing changes. It does seem like we are in the home stretch at least. I also like the simple solid looking block.  It would also have a clean look laid down with an adapter.

Does this HC card have RGB lighting?

I have been under the impression that there would be a significant difference in the HC, that it would not be a standard card with a block, and would have a performance advantage. Probably wishful thinking on my part. We won't know until they come out, and many of will have gone a different direction by then.

I think EVGA has abandoned the Hydro Copper. They are all in for the hybrids. I don't like the hybrids, as it stands now; I have my radiator fans, and one for exhaust. I switched from ASUS to EVGA, because of the hydro copper. Now I have to by an EK water block, and an ASUS 1080, and go all surgeon on the damn card. Thanks a lot EVGA, you really know how to chase away customers.

Personally, I have bought 2 x 1080 Classys and am just waiting EK blocks as the wait for actual HC from EVGA in Europe will be a LOOOOONG one I fear (live in UK).
 
Bigger issue for me is whether to use these on existing X79 (whilst awaiting nextgen) or go to X99 which would seem daft as X99 is already old, admittedly not as old as X79, but still old.
 
Decisions, decisions!
 
Ridesy

My main reason for waiting for these are the sheer warranty factor.  If you get a non WC card and remove the stuff on it, your warranty is void.. Im not paying $1000+ for cards that can be useless 6 months after for various reasons..  Im in no rush, I will wait for EVGA's Hydro's.. 

subdivisions
My main reason for waiting for these are the sheer warranty factor.  If you get a non WC card and remove the stuff on it, your warranty is void.. Im not paying $1000+ for cards that can be useless 6 months after for various reasons..  Im in no rush, I will wait for EVGA's Hydro's.. 

eVGA does not void your warranty.  You simply have to put the card back into factory condition and not have done any physical damage to the card before an RMA.

subdivisions
My main reason for waiting for these are the sheer warranty factor.  If you get a non WC card and remove the stuff on it, your warranty is void.. Im not paying $1000+ for cards that can be useless 6 months after for various reasons..  Im in no rush, I will wait for EVGA's Hydro's.. 

You can get the MSI EK X which has the same 3 year warranty as the EVGA Hydro Copper cards. I own one after owning a 780 Classified Hydro Copper and I have no complaints other than the BIOS level voltage limit but that is a problem with all new cards right now. Actually the MSI card is the first non EVGA I have ever owned besides my first gpu which was a Radeon X1300. There is also the Zotac ArcticStorm but I am not sure on warranty on that one.